Fishing at Maria Lake, Wright County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Wright County, Minnesota, is where Maria Lake sits. It lies 965 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 24 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is a small entry by Wright County standards. The nearest place of any size is Maple Lake, 6.2 miles away. It is 40 miles to Minneapolis, the nearest city. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Maria Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Wright County cover largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, yellow perch and common carp. The county list is broader than any single water. On Maria Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 71°F at the top of summer and 11°F at the bottom of winter. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Maria Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. A pier 160 yards from here gives a platform over deeper water. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. Somewhere to sit and eat is half a mile out. There are toilets half a mile off. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Silver Lake sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Maria Lake before loading the car.