Fishing Little Beaver Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Little Beaver Lake, in Crow Wing County. It sits in rolling bush. At 15 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by Crow Wing County standards. Crosslake lies 1.9 miles from the water. Breezy Point follows at 6 miles, then Pequot Lakes at 8.5 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Little Beaver Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Work Little Beaver Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 69°F and January at 8°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Little Beaver Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Upgaard Wildlife Management Area runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Hooligans Hole at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat Little Beaver Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.