Fishing Grass Lake in Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Lake County entry here is Grass Lake, in Minnesota. The country here is lake country bush. About 24 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It sits higher than most water we list in Minnesota. Babbitt at 19 miles is the nearest place to stop. Ely lies 21 miles off, Hoyt Lakes another 31 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Grass Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Lake County records list white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Fish Grass Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 4°F and July at about 64°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Time your trip to Grass Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Beetle Lake at 0.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Grass Lake if anything is unclear.