Big Cranberry Lake Fishing near Crosslake, Minnesota

• Overview

  Big Cranberry Lake sits within Crow Wing County in Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,417 feet. It measures about 27 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Crosslake sits 12 miles from the bank. Pequot Lakes is 15 miles away, with Breezy Point at 16 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Big Cranberry Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Crow Wing County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Work Big Cranberry Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 6°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan any trip to Big Cranberry Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Blind Lake is 0.6 miles off. What applies at Big Cranberry Lake may have changed since it was mapped.