Loon Lake Fishing near Crosslake, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Loon Lake belongs to Cass County. It lies 1,362 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 34 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Shoreline comes to about 1.1 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Crosslake is the closest town at 21 miles. Aitkin is 27 miles and Cohasset 27 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Loon Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Cass County include largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill and walleye. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Loon Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 67°F at the top of summer and 6°F at the bottom of winter. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. That is the shape of the year on Loon Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The water borders Land O'Lakes State Forest, so expect the reserve rules to apply. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Baker Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. For Loon Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.