Fishing at Big McCarthy Lake, Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Big McCarthy Lake is one of the Itasca County listings for Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,365 feet. Around 110 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The full circuit measures close to 2.7 miles on foot. The nearest place of any size is Keewatin, 8.9 miles away. Minneapolis is the closest city, 168 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Big McCarthy Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Itasca County include yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and black crappie. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Big McCarthy Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 66°F, with January the cold end at about 5°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. That is the shape of the year on Big McCarthy Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Third Sucker Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Big McCarthy Lake before loading the car.