Chrysler Lake Fishing in Crow Wing County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Crow Wing County in Minnesota is where Chrysler Lake sits. It sits at 1,283 feet above sea level. The water covers some 110 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. A shoreline of some 1.8 miles keeps the choices simple. Crosby at 12 miles is the nearest place to stop. Further out sit Brainerd (13 miles) and Vineland (14 miles). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Chrysler Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Crow Wing County: largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Chrysler Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 68°F at the top of summer and 8°F at the bottom of winter. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Chrysler Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Wilson Lake is 1.1 miles distant. None of that is settled for Chrysler Lake in what we hold.