Phare Lake Fishing Guide, Renville County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Set in Renville County, Minnesota, this is Phare Lake. It stands 1,056 feet above sea level. It measures about 123 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline comes to about 1.5 miles, small enough to learn in a day. It is a small entry by Renville County standards. Some 8.8 miles away sits Hector, the nearest settlement. Minneapolis sits 65 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Phare Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Renville County include common carp, walleye, channel catfish, white sucker and largemouth bass. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Work Phare Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 72°F, the coldest about 11°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan any trip to Phare Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Hodgson Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Phare Lake are worth checking on the day.