Perch Lake in Morrison County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Perch Lake falls inside Morrison County. Height above sea level is 1,266 feet. It measures about 100 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 1.6 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The closest town, Staples, is 12 miles distant. The nearest city of size is Minneapolis, 109 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Perch Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Reported across Morrison County: largemouth bass, bluegill and northern pike. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Work Perch Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 69°F in July and bottom out at 8°F in January. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Perch Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is South Twin Lake, 0.9 miles out. Check the position at Perch Lake before loading the car.