Bartels Lake in Pine County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Pine County entry here is Bartels Lake, in Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,211 feet. The water measures roughly 17 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Moose Lake sits 14 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Saint Paul is the closest city, 95 miles away. Also within reach: Hicks Lake after 3.8 miles, 4.8 miles out stands Lake Margaret, Walthausen Lake after 5.6 miles, 5.7 miles out stands Willow Lake and Stevens Lake after 6.4 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Bartels Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Pine County include northern pike, bluegill, largemouth bass and black crappie. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The near bank of Bartels Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 67°F; by January the average is down near 8°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and late November closes it again. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Bartels Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Hicks Lake, 3.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Bartels Lake carry more weight than any list.