Fishing Scoffner Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Scoffner Lake sits in Hubbard County, out in Minnesota. It sits at 1,421 feet above sea level. At 7 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Hubbard County are larger. Park Rapids at 21 miles is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Fargo is 103 miles off. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Scoffner Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Hubbard County, recorded fish include walleye, northern pike and black crappie. The county list is broader than any single water. Scoffner Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 68°F and January about 6°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and late November closes it again. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. On Scoffner Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Wheeler Lake, 0.7 miles out. For Scoffner Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.