Floodwood Lake in Itasca County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Floodwood Lake lies within the bounds of Itasca County, Minnesota. It stands 1,289 feet above sea level. The water covers around 308 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The margin runs to about 3.9 miles in total. It is among the larger waters listed here for Itasca County. Keewatin is the closest place, 16 miles off. After that come Hibbing at 19 miles and Coleraine at 20 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Floodwood Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Itasca County include yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Floodwood Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 6°F to 66°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Floodwood Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Long Lake is 1.3 miles distant. Treat Floodwood Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.