Cranberry Lake in Morrison County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Morrison County, Minnesota, sits Cranberry Lake. The bank is 1,289 feet above sea level. Roughly 80 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 1.9 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. For supplies, Staples is 12 miles out. It is 108 miles to Minneapolis, the nearest city. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Morrison County: largemouth bass, bluegill and northern pike. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Cranberry Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 8°F in January and 69°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan any trip to Cranberry Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Little Cranberry Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Cranberry Lake should be assumed from this page alone.