Lake Independence Fishing near Maple Plain, Minnesota

• Overview

  Lake Independence is set in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The surface lies 942 feet up. The water covers around 826 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The perimeter runs near 6.3 miles, so plan the walk before you start. Size puts it in the front rank of our Hennepin County list. Maple Plain is the closest place, 1.6 miles off. Minneapolis sits 19 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lake Independence

  The basin has been measured to about 68 feet. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Hennepin County include bluegill, common carp and largemouth bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Lake Independence the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 11°F in January and 71°F in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. From about early April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Time your trip to Lake Independence by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. A picnic area is mapped about half a mile away. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Lake Ardmore, 0.7 miles out. Signs at Lake Independence carry more weight than any list.