Phelps Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Rice County, Minnesota. It lies 1,027 feet above sea level. The water covers around 291 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Supplies mean a trip to Lonsdale, 4 miles off. Minneapolis is the closest city, 38 miles away. If this one is busy: Cody Lake a shade over 0.6 miles, Duban Lake roughly 1.2 miles, Rice Lake a shade over 2 miles, Lake Sanborn roughly 2.5 miles and Metogga Lake a shade over 2.5 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Phelps Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Rice County, recorded fish include common carp, bluegill and largemouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Phelps Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 71°F, with January the cold end at about 11°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice usually gives way near early April, and forms again about late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan around that when you fish Phelps Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. For a change of water, Cody Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Confirm access to Phelps Lake locally before you travel.