Henson Lake Fishing Guide, Beltrami County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Henson Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. The surface lies 1,368 feet up. At 16 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by Beltrami County standards. Bemidji at 14 miles is the nearest place to stop. After that come Bagley at 14 miles and Little Rock at 19 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Henson Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Beltrami County include walleye, yellow perch, northern pike and largemouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Henson Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 67°F, the coldest about 3°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and mid November closes it again. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Henson Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Horseshoe Lake, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Henson Lake in particular, ask before you travel.