Dunning Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Dunning Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. The water sits 1,365 feet up. With some 67 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Roughly 1.4 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Start from Coleraine, 5.4 miles down the road. The nearest city of size is Minneapolis, 163 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Dunning Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. 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. Fish documented in Itasca County include yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and black crappie. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The near bank of Dunning Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 5°F in January to roughly 66°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. The season between ice runs from about mid April to late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan any trip to Dunning Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Big Diamond Lake is 1 mile off. Confirm access to Dunning Lake locally before you travel.