Fishing at Four Town Lake, Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Itasca County entry here is Four Town Lake, in Minnesota. It stands 1,388 feet above sea level. The water covers around 261 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The edge runs 3.0 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. On our Itasca County list it sits near the top for size. 31 miles away sits Cohasset, the nearest town. Fargo sits 146 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Four Town Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Itasca County include yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and black crappie. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Treat Four Town Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 4°F to 66°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. At Four Town Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Beaver Lodge Reservoir, 1.6 miles away. Check the position on Four Town Lake before loading the car.