Rikansrud Lake Fishing Guide, Polk County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Out in Polk County, Minnesota, sits Rikansrud Lake. Elevation runs to 1,280 feet. Surface area runs to about 6 acres — small enough to read in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Polk County list. Fosston sits 5.6 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Further out sit Bagley (15 miles) and Mahnomen (26 miles). The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Rikansrud Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Polk County cover yellow perch, brown bullhead and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Rikansrud Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 68°F and January reads 3°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about mid November in an average year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. At Rikansrud Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Sawmill Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Rikansrud Lake.