Fishing at Larson Lake, Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  You will find Larson Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. The setting is mixed forest on every side. The water covers some 204 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Roughly 2.6 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. On our Itasca County list it sits near the top for size. Some 30 miles away sits Keewatin, the nearest settlement. Chisholm is 31 miles away, with Hibbing at 32 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Larson Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Itasca County names yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Larson Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 66°F and January about 5°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The lid tends to go about late April and return around mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Larson Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Coon Lake is 1.2 miles off. Treat Larson Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.