Fishing at Prestrude Lake, Becker County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Set in Becker County, Minnesota, this is Prestrude Lake. The surface lies 1,358 feet up. The water covers some 40 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Hawley is the closest place, 9.6 miles off. For a city, Fargo is 32 miles off. Water in the same corner: Round Lake after 1.2 miles, Bijou Lake 1.2 miles, Roberg Lake after 1.6 miles, Horan Lake 1.7 miles and Lee Lake after 2 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Prestrude Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Becker County include bluegill, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Fish Prestrude Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 69°F and January about 5°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. The season on Prestrude Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Round Lake sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Prestrude Lake in what we hold.