Fishing Ida Lake in Hubbard County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Ida Lake is one of the Hubbard County waters in Minnesota. The bank is 1,417 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 68 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Park Rapids sits 6.4 miles from the bank. Menahga is 17 miles away, with Bemidji at 34 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Ida Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Hubbard County include walleye, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Work Ida Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 69°F in July and bottoms out near 4°F in January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That shapes the year on Ida Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. A ramp is mapped within half a mile. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Beaver Lake is 0.4 miles off. Treat Ida Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.