Borden Lake in Crow Wing County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Crow Wing County end of Minnesota holds Borden Lake. Elevation runs to 1,240 feet. At 1,015 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. The margin runs to about 9.8 miles in total. It ranks high for size among our Crow Wing County listings. Supplies mean a trip to Vineland, 11 miles off. Crosby is 13 miles and Brainerd 17 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Borden Lake

  Survey data gives a maximum of roughly 96 feet. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Public occurrence data for Crow Wing County names largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Anyone new to Borden Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 69°F for July and 8°F for January. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Time your trip to Borden Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a reservoir by origin, with the deepest water near the dam. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Maple Lake at 1 mile is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Borden Lake locally before you travel.