Fishing Cook Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Cook Lake is a Hennepin County water, in Minnesota. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. This is a pocket water of some 13 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Hennepin County. Start from Corcoran, 1.4 miles down the road. Beyond it, Maple Grove at 3.4 miles and Medina at 5 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Cook Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Hennepin County: bluegill, common carp and largemouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Cook Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 11°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. From about early April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It sets the rhythm of the year at Cook Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Weaver Lake at 1.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Cook Lake are worth checking on the day.