Upper Fifth Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Cass County, Minnesota, is where Upper Fifth Lake sits. The setting is rolling bush on every side. Roughly 37 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Nearest place of any size is Park Rapids, 23 miles away. The nearest city of size is Fargo, 103 miles away. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Upper Fifth Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Cass County records list largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill and walleye among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Upper Fifth Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 5°F to 68°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan any trip to Upper Fifth Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Fourth Lake, 0.3 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Upper Fifth Lake is worth confirming on the day.