Fishing Hampton Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Hampton Lake belongs to Crow Wing County. The land about it is lake country bush. About 10 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is a small entry by Crow Wing County standards. Some 12 miles away sits Baxter, the nearest settlement. Brainerd lies 13 miles off, Pierz another 14 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hampton Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Crow Wing County include largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Fish Hampton Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 69°F; the cold one sits at 8°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. On Hampton Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Ashenbrenner Lake is 0.5 miles distant. Treat Hampton Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.