Rushfieldt Lake near Hawley: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Clay County, Minnesota, is where Rushfieldt Lake sits. Elevation runs to 1,070 feet. Surface area is around 40 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The bank runs about 1.4 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Hawley lies 6.8 miles from the water. Barnesville lies 9.7 miles off, Glyndon another 12 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Rushfieldt Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Clay County list bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie, northern pike and largemouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. At Rushfieldt Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 69°F, while January sits near 6°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Rushfieldt Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. This sits inside Bjornson Wildlife Management Area, so read the reserve notices first. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Silver Lake at 3.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Rushfieldt Lake before loading the car.