Fishing at McKewen Lake, Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  McKewen Lake lies within the bounds of Itasca County, Minnesota. The bank is 1,381 feet above sea level. It measures about 44 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Cohasset is the closest place, 20 miles off. After that come Coleraine at 20 miles and Grand Rapids at 22 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on McKewen Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Itasca County records list yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At McKewen Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 67°F, while January sits near 4°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. At McKewen Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Smith Lake is 0.7 miles distant. Check the position at McKewen Lake before loading the car.