Hibrooten Lake near Elbow Lake: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Grant County end of Minnesota holds Hibrooten Lake. It sits in pine and birch country. Roughly 43 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. It is a small entry by Grant County standards. Nearest town is Elbow Lake, 9.1 miles off. After that come Morris at 20 miles and Wheaton at 24 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Hibrooten Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Grant County include common carp, largemouth bass, walleye, bluegill and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Anyone new to Hibrooten Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 71°F; the cold one sits at 9°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. That shapes the year on Hibrooten Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Spink WPA takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. 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. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Schram Lake, 2.1 miles away. Nothing here settles the position at Hibrooten Lake for certain.