Fishing at Mary Lake, Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Mary Lake stands in Itasca County, Minnesota. The surroundings are pine and birch. The water covers some 99 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Bank access stretches around 2.0 miles in total. Supplies mean a trip to Keewatin, 13 miles off. Beyond it, Hibbing at 16 miles and Coleraine at 17 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Mary Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Itasca County include yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and black crappie. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Work Mary Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 66°F and January at 6°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Mary Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Beauty Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Treat Mary Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.