Hen Lake Fishing Guide, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Crow Wing County, Minnesota, is where Hen Lake sits. The bank is 1,224 feet above sea level. Around 128 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. 2.7 miles away sits Crosslake, the nearest town. Breezy Point lies 8.3 miles off, Pequot Lakes another 10 miles. Within easy reach: Rush Lake 0.3 miles away, Island Lake after 0.9 miles, Loon Lake 1.3 miles away, Ox Lake after 1.5 miles and McClain Lake 1.5 miles away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Hen Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Hen Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 69°F, while January sits near 7°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Anyone fishing Hen Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Rush Lake is 0.3 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Hen Lake for certain.