Fishing at Little Horseshoe Lake, Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Little Horseshoe Lake is an Itasca County water, in Minnesota. It lies 1,391 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 12 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our Itasca County list. Chisholm lies 35 miles from the water. After that come Keewatin at 35 miles and Hibbing at 37 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Little Horseshoe Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Itasca County records list yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and black crappie among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish Little Horseshoe Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 66°F and January near 5°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. The water is typically free of ice between late April and mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Time your trip to Little Horseshoe Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Island Lake sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Little Horseshoe Lake for certain.