Blackface Lake in Aitkin County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Aitkin County, Minnesota, you have Blackface Lake. It stands 1,289 feet above sea level. The water covers some 186 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 3.1 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Grand Rapids at 25 miles is the nearest place to stop. Minneapolis sits 135 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Blackface Lake

  Sounding records show water to about 20 feet. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Aitkin County, recorded fish include northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie and largemouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Blackface Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 6°F and July at about 67°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Blackface Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Long Lake at 1.4 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Blackface Lake is worth confirming on the day.