Fishing Holden Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Holden Lake stands in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Around the bank it is pine and birch. Small at around 10 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Crow Wing County standards. For supplies, Little Falls is 12 miles out. For a city, Minneapolis is 98 miles off. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Holden Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Fish Holden Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 69°F; by January the average is down near 9°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan around that when you fish Holden Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Miller Lake is 0.3 miles distant. The position on Holden Lake is worth confirming on the day.