Fishing at Carter Lake, Beltrami County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Beltrami County, Minnesota, is where Carter Lake sits. The bank is 1,342 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 28 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. A shoreline of some 1.0 miles keeps the choices simple. It is a small entry by Beltrami County standards. Start from Bemidji, 16 miles down the road. Redby is 21 miles and Red Lake 24 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Carter Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Beltrami County: walleye, yellow perch and northern pike. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The shape of Carter Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 67°F; the cold one sits at 3°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about mid November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Carter Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Fagen Lake sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Carter Lake carry more weight than any list.