Lake Five Fishing near Sandstone, Minnesota

• Overview

  Lake Five is one of the Pine County waters in Minnesota. The bank is 978 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 23 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Ground here is low by Minnesota standards. The town to know is Sandstone, 18 miles out. Saint Paul is the closest city, 82 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lake Five

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Pine County cover northern pike, bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie and pumpkinseed. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Lake Five the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 68°F, while January sits near 9°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. On Lake Five that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is McGowan Lake, 1.1 miles out. Check the position at Lake Five before loading the car.