Fishing at Lake Elizabeth, Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Lake Elizabeth, in Itasca County. The ground around here is rolling bush. Roughly 188 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The shoreline runs about 4.1 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It ranks high for size among our Itasca County listings. Coleraine at 19 miles is the nearest place to stop. Fargo is the closest city, 161 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake Elizabeth

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Itasca County cover yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and black crappie. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Lake Elizabeth gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 4°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Lake Elizabeth that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Allen Lake is 0.6 miles off. The position on Lake Elizabeth is worth confirming on the day.