Fishing Anderson Lake in Aitkin County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Set in Aitkin County, Anderson Lake is a Minnesota water. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. Small at around 6 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Aitkin County list. Aitkin sits 5.2 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Minneapolis is 106 miles off. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Anderson Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Aitkin County cover northern pike, bluegill and yellow perch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Work Anderson Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 7°F and July at about 69°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. It holds true on Anderson Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is a mapped slipway roughly 0.9 miles away. Recorded parking is 0.9 miles off, far enough to travel light. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Camp Lake is 0.3 miles off. Treat access at Anderson Lake as something to verify.