Lake of the Isles, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lake of the Isles falls in Hennepin County, part of Minnesota. The surface lies 853 feet up. It measures about 120 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Minnesota listings. Saint Louis Park lies 2.1 miles from the water. Minneapolis follows at 2.7 miles, then Longfellow Community at 4.1 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Lake of the Isles

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Across Hennepin County, recorded fish include bluegill, common carp, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and black crappie. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Anyone new to Lake of the Isles should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 13°F in January and 73°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about early December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. That is the shape of the year on Lake of the Isles.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Mapping shows a ramp about half a mile from the shore. A marina half a mile from here covers launching and moorings. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Cedar Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Lake of the Isles if anything is unclear.