Barthels Pond, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Land around it is mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. Most waters listed here for Hennepin County are larger. Supplies mean a trip to Bloomington, 0.8 miles off. It is 9.9 miles to Minneapolis, the nearest city. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Barthels Pond

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Hennepin County cover bluegill, common carp and largemouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Barthels Pond responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 13°F and July at about 73°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. On average, early April opens the water and early December closes it again. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Time your trip to Barthels Pond by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Penn Lake, 0.7 miles away. Confirm before you fish Barthels Pond.