Fishing at Island Lake, Crow Wing County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Set in Crow Wing County, Island Lake is a Minnesota water. It lies 1,224 feet above sea level. Roughly 186 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Crosslake sits 3.5 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Further out sit Breezy Point (9.1 miles) and Pequot Lakes (11 miles). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Island Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Crow Wing County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Island Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 7°F in January up to 69°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Time your trip to Island Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Loon Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. For Island Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.