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

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Turtle Lake falls inside Grant County. Elevation runs to 1,191 feet. The water covers some 61 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 2.0 miles of margin, front to back. Elbow Lake is the closest town at 10 miles. It is 82 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. Near neighbours: Retzloff Lake 0.6 miles, Round Lake within 0.7 miles, Spring Lake 1.1 miles, Church Lake within 1.9 miles and Elk Lake 1.9 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Turtle Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Grant County: common carp, largemouth bass, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The near bank of Turtle Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 71°F and January near 9°F on the long-run figures. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Turtle Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Retzloff Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Turtle Lake in what we hold.