Fishing at Johnson Lake, Morrison County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Within Morrison County, Minnesota, you have Johnson Lake. It lies 1,220 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 15 acres — small enough to read in one session. You are 12 miles from Little Falls. Long Prairie is 12 miles and Royalton 18 miles. Within easy reach: Beauty Lake after 0.6 miles, Prowect Lake some 3.2 miles off, Kuhl Lake after 3.4 miles, Larson Lake some 3.5 miles off and Polander Lake after 3.8 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Johnson Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Morrison County include largemouth bass, bluegill and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Johnson Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 9°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Open water usually runs from mid April until about late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It holds true on Johnson Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Beauty Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Johnson Lake is worth confirming on the day.