Ham Lake Fishing in Hubbard County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Hubbard County end of Minnesota holds Ham Lake. The ground round it is rolling bush. With some 186 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 2.3 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Nearest place of any size is Park Rapids, 13 miles away. It is 95 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Ham Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Hubbard County include walleye, northern pike, black crappie and bluegill. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Ham Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 5°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. From about mid April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan any trip to Ham Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Hay Lake, 0.7 miles out. Where Ham Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.