Little Winnibigoshish Lake near Cohasset: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Little Winnibigoshish Lake lies in Itasca County, Minnesota. The surface lies 1,273 feet up. It measures some 823 acres, and wind has room to build across it. The perimeter runs near 5.3 miles, so plan the walk before you start. Size puts it in the front rank of our Itasca County list. The town to know is Cohasset, 22 miles out. Fargo sits 135 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Little Winnibigoshish Lake

  Measured depth reaches about 34 feet at the deepest point. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Itasca County include yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Little Winnibigoshish Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 67°F in July and bottom out at 4°F in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Little Winnibigoshish Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Little Ball Club Lake at 1.4 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Little Winnibigoshish Lake may have changed since it was mapped.