Hooligan Lake near Cohasset: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Hooligan Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. The surface lies 1,368 feet up. About 24 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The nearest place of any size is Cohasset, 15 miles away. Fargo sits 152 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Nearest other option: Balloon Lake lies 0.2 miles on, Mud Lake 0.4 miles, Myers Lake lies 0.7 miles on, Beaver Lake 0.8 miles and Grave Lake lies 1 mile on. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hooligan Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Itasca County list yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and black crappie. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Hooligan Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 4°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Hooligan Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Balloon Lake is 0.2 miles off. For Hooligan Lake in particular, ask before you travel.