Hizer Lake Fishing near Carlton, Minnesota

• Overview

  Set in Carlton County, Hizer Lake is a Minnesota water. The surface lies 1,089 feet up. Roughly 32 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Shoreline comes to about 1.1 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Some 10 miles away sits Carlton, the nearest settlement. Then Moose Lake, 11 miles, and Cloquet, 12 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hizer Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Carlton County cover bluegill, yellow perch and black crappie. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of Hizer Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 67°F; the cold one sits at 8°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Hizer Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Mapping shows a picnic spot within half a mile. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Munson Lake is 1.2 miles distant. For Hizer Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.