Crooked Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Itasca County end of Minnesota holds Crooked Lake. It stands 1,381 feet above sea level. With some 99 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 2.4 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. The closest town, Cohasset, is 30 miles distant. Coleraine is 32 miles away, with Grand Rapids at 33 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Crooked Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Itasca County records list yellow perch, largemouth bass and northern pike among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Crooked Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 66°F; by January the average is down near 4°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. The season on Crooked Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Crooked Lake Impoundment, 0.6 miles away. Treat Crooked Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.