Fishing at Grass Lake, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Grass Lake belongs to Crow Wing County. The land about it is pine and birch. It runs to roughly 63 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The bank runs about 1.3 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Some 5.7 miles away sits Crosslake, the nearest settlement. The big place round here is Minneapolis, 126 miles distant. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Grass Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Crow Wing County include largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Grass Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 68°F and January about 7°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Expect Grass Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Cranberry Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Grass Lake.