Heinen Lake Fishing in Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Out in Itasca County, Minnesota, sits Heinen Lake. The surroundings are rolling bush. The water covers some 27 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Nearest town is Coleraine, 24 miles off. Fargo sits 160 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Heinen Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Itasca County records list yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and black crappie among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Heinen Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 66°F and January near 4°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Expect Heinen Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Copenhagen Lake, 0.6 miles away. Nothing here settles the position at Heinen Lake for certain.