Fishing Little Portage Lake in Cass County, Minnesota

• Overview

  You will find Little Portage Lake in Cass County, Minnesota. The water sits 1,299 feet up. The water covers some 69 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 1.3 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. The closest town, Bemidji, is 27 miles away. Fargo is the closest city, 121 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Little Portage Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Cass County list largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill and walleye. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Little Portage Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 67°F in July and bottom out at 5°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Little Portage Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Ten Lake, 1.4 miles away. Check the position on Little Portage Lake before loading the car.