Small Lake in Becker County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Becker County, Minnesota, you have Small Lake. Land around it is mixed forest. It measures about 31 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. 10 miles away sits Park Rapids, the nearest town. Menahga is 19 miles and Frazee 29 miles. Also on the doorstep: Big Tam Lake 0.6 miles away, Knights Lake lies 0.8 miles on, Stump Lake 0.8 miles away, Long Lake lies 1.2 miles on and Ten Acre Lake 1.6 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Small Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Becker County cover bluegill, largemouth bass and walleye. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Read Small Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 4°F in January up to 68°F in July. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Small Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Big Tam Lake, 0.6 miles out. Ask locally about Small Lake if anything is unclear.