Fishing Bensen Lake in Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Bensen Lake sits within Lake County in Minnesota. The water sits 1,414 feet up. At 20 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The town to know is Silver Bay, 14 miles out. Beyond it, Two Harbors at 41 miles and Grand Marais at 41 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about. One side gets the morning sun and the other the evening.

• Where to Fish on Bensen Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Lake County, recorded fish include white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Bensen Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 64°F in July and bottoms out near 9°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Expect Bensen Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. There are picnic tables half a mile away. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Blesener Lake at 1.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Bensen Lake.