Little Moss Lake in Cass County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Little Moss Lake in the Cass County part of Minnesota. What surrounds it is lake country bush. With some 85 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. About 1.7 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. For supplies, Bemidji is 19 miles out. Fargo is the closest city, 108 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Little Moss Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Cass County include largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Little Moss Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 4°F and July at about 67°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Anyone fishing Little Moss Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A boat ramp sits half a mile away, so trailered boats can get on. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Little Twin Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Signs at Little Moss Lake carry more weight than any list.