Bob Lake in Carlton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Bob Lake is one of the Carlton County waters in Minnesota. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. Surface area is around 76 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. With about 1.3 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. The nearest town is Carlton, 9.3 miles away. The nearest city of size is Minneapolis, 119 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Bob Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Carlton County include bluegill, yellow perch, black crappie and largemouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Anyone new to Bob Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 67°F and January at 7°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Bob Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Park Lake is 2.1 miles distant. Nothing on Bob Lake should be assumed from this page alone.