Fishing at Blue Lake, Hubbard County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Blue Lake lies in Hubbard County, in Minnesota. It sits in lake country bush country. This is sizeable water at about 318 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. With about 3.1 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It is among the larger waters listed here for Hubbard County. Supplies mean a trip to Park Rapids, 7 miles off. Then Menahga, 19 miles, and Bemidji, 32 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Blue Lake

  Surveys put the deepest water at about 96 feet. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Hubbard County include walleye, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The near bank of Blue Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 67°F and January about 4°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan any trip to Blue Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Little Rice Lake is 1.2 miles distant. Ask locally about Blue Lake if anything is unclear.