Fishing at Bernhart Lake, Morrison County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Bernhart Lake stands in Morrison County, Minnesota. The bank is 1,273 feet above sea level. Around 36 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. 14 miles away sits Baxter, the nearest town. Minneapolis sits 105 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Bernhart Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Morrison County include largemouth bass, bluegill, northern pike, black crappie and yellow perch. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. The near bank of Bernhart Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 69°F in July and bottom out at 8°F in January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Time your trip to Bernhart Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Mud Lake, 1.2 miles away. Ask locally about Bernhart Lake if anything is unclear.