Rose Lake Fishing near Frazee, Minnesota

• Overview

  Rose Lake is an Otter Tail County water, in Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,339 feet. It measures some 1,189 acres, and wind has room to build across it. The perimeter runs near 8.9 miles, so plan the walk before you start. Few waters listed in Otter Tail County are bigger. The closest town, Frazee, is 4.3 miles away. It is 52 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Rose Lake

  Recorded soundings reach about 156 feet at the deepest point. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Otter Tail County include largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Rose Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 69°F, the coldest about 5°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Rose Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Pug Lake, 1.1 miles away. Confirm before you fish Rose Lake.