Gardner Lake Fishing Guide, Mahnomen County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Gardner Lake is set in Mahnomen County, Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,476 feet. It measures about 41 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The full circuit measures close to 1.4 miles on foot. For a base, Mahnomen sits 11 miles out. Fargo sits 56 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Gardner Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Mahnomen County include rainbow trout, white sucker, northern pike, bluegill and yellow perch. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Gardner Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 4°F in January up to 68°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Gardner Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Daigle Lake at 0.9 miles is the nearest alternative. For Gardner Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.