Lake Oliver is a lake in Swift County, Minnesota. Lake Oliver covers about 358 acres, reaches a recorded 18 feet and holds about 3,761 acre-feet.
How the Size and Shape of Lake Oliver Affect Fishing
Lake Oliver is small enough to check weeds, wood, rock and the first deep drop without spending the whole day moving around.
Fish and Baits at Lake Oliver
Fish reported from Lake Oliver include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, common carp, fathead minnow, green sunfish, iowa darter, johnny darter, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, spottail shiner, tadpole madtom, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.
Bass
For bass at Oliver, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth, and work a tube, Ned rig or small crankbait across rock and firm points for smallmouth.
Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish
For panfish at Oliver, 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 Oliver, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.
Northern Pike
For large predators at Oliver, cast a spoon, spinnerbait or swimbait beside weeds for northern pike.
Bullheads and Carp
For bottom fishing at Oliver, fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads, and use corn or dough bait on a simple bottom rig for carp.
How the Seasons Change Lake Oliver
Spring at Oliver 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 Oliver can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.
A Simple Plan for Fishing Lake Oliver
On a first trip to Oliver, 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.
Useful Tackle for Lake Oliver
A medium spinning rod covers smaller lures at Oliver, while a heavier rod and stronger leader are better for northern pike.
Lake Oliver FAQs
Where should an angler start on the 358-acre Lake Oliver?
At Oliver, pick one cove and the closest point or drop into deep water, then fish that small area well before making a long move.
Should anglers fish the 18-foot deep end of Lake Oliver?
Not every trip. A better place at Oliver is where a point, drop-off or group of baitfish gives the fish a reason to stop.
What does the 3,761 acre-foot storage figure mean at Lake Oliver?
At Oliver, it shows that a lot of the water sits away from the bank and around the old channel or deep end.
Nearby fishing waters
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.