Johnson Lake Fishing near Bagley, Minnesota

• Overview

  Johnson Lake is one of the Clearwater County waters in Minnesota. The country round it is pine and birch from end to end. Around 29 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Start from Bagley, 12 miles down the road. After that come Fosston at 14 miles and Little Rock at 22 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Johnson Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Clearwater County include bluegill, northern pike, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Johnson Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 68°F and January reads 3°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. From about mid April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Time your trip to Johnson Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A carry of 0.9 miles from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Stony Lake, 0.5 miles out. What applies at Johnson Lake may have changed since it was mapped.