Blacksmith Lake Fishing near Park Rapids, Minnesota

• Overview

  You will find Blacksmith Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota. The water sits 1,519 feet up. It measures about 39 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. With about 1.2 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. The town to know is Park Rapids, 13 miles out. Menahga follows at 25 miles, then Bemidji at 26 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Blacksmith Lake

  The basin has been measured to about 51 feet. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Hubbard County, recorded fish include walleye, northern pike, black crappie and bluegill. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The shape of Blacksmith Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 67°F; by January the average is down near 4°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan any trip to Blacksmith Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Coon Lake, 1.8 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Blacksmith Lake for certain.