Fishing Bass Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Bass Lake falls inside Crow Wing County. It lies 1,191 feet above sea level. About 392 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The bank runs about 2.9 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Crow Wing County list. The town to know is Nisswa, 7.3 miles out. Beyond it, Breezy Point at 7.8 miles and Crosby at 8.7 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Bass Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Crow Wing County include largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Bass Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 69°F in July and bottoms out near 8°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It holds true on Bass Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. 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. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Silver Lake is 1.4 miles distant. Rules at Bass Lake are worth checking on the day.