Cranberry Lake Fishing in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Cranberry Lake is one of the Mille Lacs County listings for Minnesota. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Mille Lacs County. Supplies mean a trip to Vineland, 15 miles off. It is 71 miles to Minneapolis, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Mille Lacs County cover largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, bluegill and black crappie. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Cranberry Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 68°F on average, January about 8°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. On Cranberry Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Mikkelson Pool at 2.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Cranberry Lake.