Thorstad Lake near Elbow Lake: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Grant County, Minnesota, this is Thorstad Lake. Elevation runs to 1,155 feet. Roughly 44 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Shoreline comes to about 1.1 miles, small enough to learn in a day. The nearest town is Elbow Lake, 5.3 miles away. Further out sit Fergus Falls (23 miles) and Alexandria (25 miles). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Thorstad Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Grant County include common carp, largemouth bass, walleye and bluegill. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Thorstad Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 70°F on average, January about 8°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Thorstad Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The water borders Berskow Wildlife Management Area, so reserve rules are likely to apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Lee Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Thorstad Lake may have changed since it was mapped.