Backes Lake near Richmond: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Backes Lake lies within the bounds of Stearns County, Minnesota. What surrounds it is rolling bush. The water measures roughly 17 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is a small entry by Stearns County standards. Supplies mean a trip to Richmond, 6.3 miles off. Albany is 6.5 miles away, with Avon at 7.9 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Backes Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across Stearns County include largemouth bass, bluegill and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Backes Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 71°F on average, January about 10°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. The water is typically free of ice between early April and late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Backes Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Kranz Lake at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Backes Lake is worth confirming on the day.