Overson Lake Fishing Guide, Clay County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Overson Lake lies within the bounds of Clay County, Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,385 feet. Roughly 54 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The whole outline is near 1.3 miles, and most of it is walkable. The closest town, Hawley, is 7.1 miles distant. The big place round here is Fargo, 28 miles distant. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Overson Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Clay County include bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie, northern pike and largemouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Overson Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 69°F, with January the cold end at about 5°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Overson Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Jergenson Lake, 0.9 miles away. Where Overson Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.