Fishing at Bass Lake, Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Bass Lake in the Itasca County part of Minnesota. The surroundings are mixed forest. This is big water, about 4.2 sq miles, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. You have roughly 20 miles of edge to choose from, which rewards a scouting trip. On our Itasca County list it sits near the top for size. Cohasset lies 4.5 miles from the water. It is 151 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Bass Lake

  Measured depth reaches about 87 feet at the deepest point. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Itasca County, recorded fish include yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish Bass Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 67°F and January near 5°F on the long-run figures. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. That is the shape of the year on Bass Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Bullhead Lake, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Bass Lake in particular, ask before you travel.