Perch Lake Fishing in Lincoln County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Out in Lincoln County, Minnesota, sits Perch Lake. It lies 1,667 feet above sea level. Roughly 162 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Around 2.7 miles of margin, front to back. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Minnesota listings. Supplies mean a trip to Canby, 13 miles off. Sioux Falls sits 70 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Perch Lake

  Depth records show about 10 feet at the bottom of the basin. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Lincoln County: common carp, yellow perch, walleye and black bullhead. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Perch Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 12°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. The open-water window runs from around early April to about late November in an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Perch Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. The water borders Pothole Wildlife Management Area, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Pike mean a wire trace, no exceptions; big spoons and jerkbaits do the searching. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Steep Bank Lake, 2.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing on Perch Lake should be assumed from this page alone.