Maple Lake Fishing Guide, Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Maple Lake is one of the Itasca County listings for Minnesota. The bank is 1,348 feet above sea level. About 251 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. With about 2.8 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It is among the larger waters listed here for Itasca County. The closest town, Cohasset, is 27 miles distant. Coleraine lies 28 miles off, Grand Rapids another 30 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Maple Lake

  Measured depth reaches about 45 feet at the deepest point. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Itasca County list yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and black crappie. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Treat Maple Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 4°F in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. That shapes the year on Maple Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Grass Lake, 0.9 miles away. For Maple Lake in particular, ask before you travel.