Mallard Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Aitkin County end of Minnesota holds Mallard Lake. This is mixed forest ground. At 313 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. Roughly 3.0 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. It is among the larger waters listed here for Aitkin County. The nearest town is Aitkin, 8.5 miles away. Crosby follows at 12 miles, then Vineland at 17 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Mallard Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Aitkin County include northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch and black crappie. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Anyone new to Mallard Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 68°F, with January the cold end at about 7°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. At Mallard Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Constance Lake, 1.6 miles away. Ask locally about Mallard Lake if anything is unclear.