Fishing Fish Lake in Kanabec County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Kanabec County, Minnesota, is where Fish Lake sits. The setting is rolling bush on every side. Surface area runs to roughly 604 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The edge covers about 8.5 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. It is among the larger waters listed here for Kanabec County. Head to Mora, 3.4 miles away, for anything you forgot. Braham is 10 miles away, with Pine City at 17 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Fish Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Fish documented in Kanabec County include largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and bluegill. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Anyone new to Fish Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 69°F in July and bottom out at 8°F in January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Anyone fishing Fish Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. A made slipway is half a mile from here, which settles the boat question. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Devils Lake at 1.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Fish Lake are worth checking on the day.