Bassett Lakes Fishing Guide, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Crow Wing County in Minnesota is where Bassett Lakes sits. The ground round it is rolling bush. Surface area runs to about 15 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Crow Wing County. The town to know is Vineland, 9.1 miles out. The nearest city of size is Minneapolis, 94 miles away. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Bassett Lakes

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Crow Wing County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Bassett Lakes fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 69°F, the coldest about 8°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Bassett Lakes runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Hogsback Lakes, 0.5 miles out. Where Bassett Lakes is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.