Welch Lake Impoundment in Itasca County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  You will find Welch Lake Impoundment in Itasca County, Minnesota. This is rolling bush country. This is a pocket water of some 6 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Itasca County standards. Redby sits 35 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The big place round here is Fargo, 139 miles distant. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Welch Lake Impoundment

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. County-wide records name yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and black crappie. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Welch Lake Impoundment that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 66°F in July and bottoms out near 4°F in January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. That is the shape of the year on Welch Lake Impoundment.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Eel Lake Impoundment at 0.8 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm access to Welch Lake Impoundment locally before you travel.