Lake Ann Fishing in Sherburne County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Lake Ann in the Sherburne County part of Minnesota. Around the bank it is mixed forest. The water covers some 141 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge covers about 3.4 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. Ground here is low by Minnesota standards. 5 miles away sits Zimmerman, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is Minneapolis, 37 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lake Ann

  Charted depth runs to roughly 29 feet at its lowest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Sherburne County records list bluegill, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie and common carp among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Lake Ann a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 10°F in January up to 71°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It holds true on Lake Ann more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Larsen Slough at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Lake Ann is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.