Heron Lake Fishing Guide, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Heron Lake is a Crow Wing County water, in Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,211 feet. The water covers some 181 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Nearest place of any size is Crosby, 7.7 miles away. The big place round here is Minneapolis, 103 miles distant. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Heron Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Crow Wing County cover largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Heron Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 69°F; the cold one sits at 8°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on Heron Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Dog Lake at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Heron Lake before loading the car.