Curtis Lake Fishing in Hennepin County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Curtis Lake is one of the Hennepin County listings for Minnesota. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. Surface area runs to about 5 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Hennepin County standards. For supplies, Plymouth is 2 miles out. Beyond it, Maple Grove at 2.4 miles and New Hope at 3.2 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Curtis Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Hennepin County cover bluegill, common carp, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and black crappie. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Curtis Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 72°F and January reads 12°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Time your trip to Curtis Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Schmidt Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Curtis Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.