Fishing at Leslin Lake, Beltrami County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Beltrami County end of Minnesota holds Leslin Lake. The surface lies 1,309 feet up. It covers about 12 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Beltrami County are larger. For a base, Red Lake sits 4.7 miles out. The big place round here is Fargo, 107 miles distant. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Leslin Lake

  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. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Beltrami County: walleye, yellow perch and northern pike. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Leslin Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 67°F; by January the average is down near 3°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and mid November closes it again. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It holds true on Leslin Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Dickens Lake, 0.9 miles away. Treat access at Leslin Lake as something to verify.