Heart Lake Fishing near Redby, Minnesota

• Overview

  Heart Lake stands in Beltrami County, Minnesota. The country round it is mixed forest from end to end. Start from Redby, 2.4 miles down the road. Red Lake is 2.4 miles and Little Rock 6.8 miles. Others worth noting: Lake Shemahgun the better part of 0.6 miles, Colombo Lake just 0.9 miles, Lake Emerald the better part of 1 mile, Balif Lake just 1.1 miles and Mud Lake the better part of 1.7 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Heart Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Beltrami County, recorded fish include walleye, yellow perch and northern pike. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Heart Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 4°F in January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice clears near late April and comes back about late November in a typical year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It sets the rhythm of the year at Heart Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Public data records a boat ramp half a mile out. A platform or pier sits within 120 yards. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Lake Shemahgun, 0.6 miles away. Check the position on Heart Lake before loading the car.