Wally Lake Fishing in Douglas County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Wally Lake is a Douglas County water, Minnesota side. The bank gives way to lake country bush. At about 136 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Roughly 3.1 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. The closest town, Alexandria, is 14 miles away. Fargo sits 89 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Wally Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Douglas County list largemouth bass, common carp, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of Wally Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 70°F, the coldest about 8°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Wally Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, North Lake Oscar is 1.4 miles distant. Confirm access to Wally Lake locally before you travel.