Buck Lake in Beltrami County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Buck Lake lies in Beltrami County, in Minnesota. The ground round it is rolling bush. At some 351 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Few waters listed in Beltrami County are bigger. The closest town, Bemidji, is 15 miles away. Beyond it, Redby at 33 miles and Red Lake at 36 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Buck Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Beltrami County include walleye, yellow perch and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Buck Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 68°F; by January the average is down near 4°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on Buck Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Luck Lake, 0.7 miles away. Treat access at Buck Lake as something to verify.