Margaret Lake Fishing near Crosslake, Minnesota

• Overview

  Set in Cass County, Margaret Lake is a Minnesota water. The surface lies 1,316 feet up. At 18 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Cass County. The nearest town is Crosslake, 15 miles away. Fargo is the closest city, 132 miles away. Not far off: Marion Lake 0.3 miles off, Snake Lake at 0.4 miles, Donut Lake 0.5 miles off, Mule Lake at 0.7 miles and Washburn Lake 1.2 miles off. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Margaret Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill and walleye. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Read Margaret Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 68°F in July and bottom out at 6°F in January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. On Margaret Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Marion Lake is 0.3 miles distant. Signs at Margaret Lake carry more weight than any list.