Whiskey Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Douglas County in Minnesota is where Whiskey Lake sits. Mixed forest runs right down to the water. With some 158 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The bank runs about 2.2 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Head to Alexandria, 11 miles away, for anything you forgot. Beyond it, Parkers Prairie at 17 miles and Elbow Lake at 19 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Whiskey Lake

  The basin drops to a measured 52 feet. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Douglas County include largemouth bass, common carp and bluegill. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Whiskey Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 70°F on average, January about 8°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. The season on Whiskey Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Devils Lake sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Whiskey Lake locally before you travel.