Fishing at Lake Mina, Douglas County, Minnesota

• Overview

  You will find Lake Mina in Douglas County, Minnesota. The bank is 1,352 feet above sea level. At 407 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. The shoreline runs about 5.1 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Few waters listed in Douglas County are bigger. The nearest place of any size is Alexandria, 4.8 miles away. Beyond it, Osakis at 16 miles and Glenwood at 17 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Lake Mina

  Recorded soundings reach about 140 feet at the deepest point. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Douglas County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, common carp, bluegill and yellow perch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Lake Mina the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 71°F for July and 9°F for January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Lake Mina follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, Emil Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Check the position at Lake Mina before loading the car.