Tatley Lake near Hawley: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  You will find Tatley Lake in Clay County, Minnesota. It sits at 1,188 feet above sea level. Roughly 50 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Bank access stretches around 1.4 miles in total. Hawley is the closest town at 7.4 miles. The nearest city of size is Fargo, 23 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Tatley Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Clay County cover bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie, northern pike and largemouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Tatley Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 5°F in January to roughly 69°F in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. At Tatley Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Part of this sits inside or beside Tatlie Lake WPA, so read the notices. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Solwald Lake sits 2 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Tatley Lake before loading the car.