Fishing at Bass Lake, Aitkin County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Bass Lake lies in Aitkin County, Minnesota. It stands 1,214 feet above sea level. With some 89 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 1.4 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The town to know is Aitkin, 27 miles out. Further out sit Grand Rapids (31 miles) and Coleraine (34 miles). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Bass Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Aitkin County include northern pike, bluegill and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Treat Bass Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 68°F and January near 6°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bass Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. 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. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Aitkin Lake, 1.1 miles out. Rules at Bass Lake are worth checking on the day.