Goose Lake Fishing near East Bethel, Minnesota

• Overview

  Goose Lake sits within Anoka County in Minnesota. It stands 892 feet above sea level. About 20 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Anoka County. Some 1.4 miles away sits East Bethel, the nearest settlement. Minneapolis sits 24 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Goose Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Anoka County, recorded fish include bluegill, common carp, black crappie and largemouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Goose Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 11°F to 71°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. From about early April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That is the shape of the year on Goose Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Parking is not close: 0.9 miles from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Anderson Lake, 0.8 miles out. Confirm access to Goose Lake locally before you travel.