Oxbow Lake in Cass County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Cass County, Minnesota, is where Oxbow Lake sits. It lies 1,322 feet above sea level. It measures about 74 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The nearest town is Cohasset, 24 miles away. It is 132 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. Close by you have: 0.7 miles away is Ododikossi Lake, Bailey Lake about 1.1 miles, 1.4 miles away is Dollar Lake, Peterson Lake about 1.9 miles and 2.4 miles away is Moon Lake. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Oxbow Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Cass County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, walleye and northern pike. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Take Oxbow Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 67°F and January about 6°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Oxbow Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Ododikossi Lake sits 0.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Oxbow Lake for certain.