Redick Swamp in Douglas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Redick Swamp sits within Douglas County in Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,345 feet. It runs to roughly 114 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. About 1.7 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Alexandria sits 12 miles from the bank. Parkers Prairie is 16 miles away, with Elbow Lake at 19 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Redick Swamp

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Douglas County include largemouth bass, common carp, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Treat Redick Swamp as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 70°F, with January the cold end at about 8°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Redick Swamp the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Devils Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Redick Swamp are worth checking on the day.