Third Lake Fishing in Polk County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Third Lake is set in Polk County, Minnesota. Everything around it is pine and birch. At roughly 7 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Polk County list. Fosston is the closest town at 0.8 miles. Bagley lies 17 miles off, Mahnomen another 21 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Third Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name yellow perch, brown bullhead, white sucker and northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Third Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 68°F in July and bottoms out near 3°F in January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Third Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Second Lake, 0.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. None of that is settled for Third Lake in what we hold.