McCarty Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Hubbard County, Minnesota, this is McCarty Lake. Land around it is rolling bush. It covers about 12 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Our Hubbard County list holds plenty of bigger water. Park Rapids is the closest place, 18 miles off. Bemidji lies 22 miles off, Menahga another 29 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on McCarty Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Hubbard County include walleye, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On McCarty Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 4°F to 67°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly mid November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan around that when you fish McCarty Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Camp Lake at 0.5 miles is the nearest alternative. For McCarty Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.