Fishing at Hirts Lake, Beltrami County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Hirts Lake belongs to Beltrami County. The bank gives way to rolling bush. Around 33 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The town to know is Bemidji, 6.7 miles out. It is 93 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. Others worth noting: Newman Lake 1.2 miles off, Fern Lake near enough 1.9 miles, Apple Lake 2.1 miles off, Stone Lake near enough 2.5 miles and Miller Lake 2.7 miles off. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Hirts Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Beltrami County: walleye, yellow perch, northern pike and largemouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Hirts Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 67°F and January near 4°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Hirts Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Newman Lake is 1.2 miles off. Ask locally about Hirts Lake if anything is unclear.