Bass Lake in Washington County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Washington County, Minnesota, sits Bass Lake. Height above sea level is 925 feet. At about 47 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. A shoreline of some 2.0 miles keeps the choices simple. It is low-lying compared with other Minnesota water we list. Grant sits 6.3 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Saint Paul, 19 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Bass Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Washington County records list bluegill, largemouth bass, brown trout, northern pike and black crappie among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Bass Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 12°F and July at about 72°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Expect Bass Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try West Boot Lake, 0.5 miles away. For Bass Lake in particular, ask before you travel.