Fishing at Barney Lakes, Mahnomen County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Barney Lakes is one of the Mahnomen County listings for Minnesota. This is pine and birch ground. It measures about 29 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. You are 13 miles from Mahnomen. Fargo is the closest city, 58 miles away. Water in the same corner: Crooked Lake lies 0.7 miles on, Peabody Lake 0.9 miles away, Daigle Lake lies 1.4 miles on, Hart Lake 1.5 miles away and Grass Lake lies 1.5 miles on. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Barney Lakes

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for Mahnomen County include rainbow trout, white sucker, northern pike, bluegill and yellow perch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Barney Lakes gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 4°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It holds true on Barney Lakes more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Crooked Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Barney Lakes if anything is unclear.