Volen Lake in Otter Tail County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Volen Lake in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Land around it is mixed forest. It runs to roughly 75 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. About 1.4 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Fergus Falls lies 9.6 miles from the water. Beyond it, Elbow Lake at 18 miles and Pelican Rapids at 25 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Volen Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Otter Tail County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, black crappie, walleye and bluegill. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Work Volen Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 7°F to 70°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Volen Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Dane Lake at 1.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Volen Lake if anything is unclear.