Coal Lake

Coal Lake is a lake in Todd County, Minnesota. Coal Lake covers about 171 acres, reaches a recorded 25 feet and holds about 2,518 acre-feet.

What to Expect at Coal Lake

Coal Lake is small enough to check weeds, wood, rock and the first deep drop without spending the whole day moving around.

Fish and Useful Baits at Coal Lake

Fish reported from Coal Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, bowfin, brown bullhead, central mudminnow, fathead minnow, golden shiner, green sunfish, iowa darter, johnny darter, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, spottail shiner, tadpole madtom, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.

Bass

For bass at Coal, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth.

Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish

For panfish at Coal, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill, pumpkinseed, and green sunfish, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.

Walleye

For roaming fish at Coal, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.

Northern Pike

For large predators at Coal, cast a spoon, spinnerbait or swimbait beside weeds for northern pike.

Bullheads

For bottom fishing at Coal, fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads.

Other Reported Fish

Other choices at Coal include these plans: work a tough soft plastic or cut bait near weeds and wood for bowfin.

A Simple Fishing Plan for Coal Lake

On a first trip to Coal, check one quiet cove, one rocky or firm point and the nearby deep water with a moving lure, then use a jig or worm where you find fish.

When to Fish Coal Lake

Spring at Coal is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer is a good time to fish shade, weeds and the first drop into deeper water. Fall at Coal can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.