Island Lake Fishing near Mahnomen, Minnesota

• Overview

  Island Lake is one of the Mahnomen County waters in Minnesota. The bank gives way to rolling bush. At 11 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Mahnomen County list holds plenty of bigger water. The closest town, Mahnomen, is 13 miles away. The big place round here is Fargo, 62 miles distant. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Island Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Mahnomen County cover rainbow trout, white sucker, northern pike, bluegill and yellow perch. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Island Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 68°F, with January the cold end at about 4°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The season between ice runs from about mid April to mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Island Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Swanson Lake, 0.4 miles out. Treat access at Island Lake as something to verify.