Maple Marsh Lake Fishing near Hugo, Minnesota

• Overview

  Maple Marsh Lake is listed under Washington County, Minnesota. The country here is pine and birch. Roughly 33 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The whole outline is near 1.2 miles, and most of it is walkable. On size it sits at the modest end of our Washington County list. For a base, Hugo sits 5.3 miles out. After that come Grant at 6.3 miles and Scandia at 6.7 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Maple Marsh Lake

  The basin has been measured to about 10 feet. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Species logged across Washington County include bluegill, largemouth bass, brown trout and northern pike. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Maple Marsh Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 71°F; the cold one sits at 11°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Maple Marsh Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Keystone Woods Wildlife Management Area runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Barker Lake at 0.8 miles is the sensible second choice. What applies at Maple Marsh Lake may have changed since it was mapped.