Minni-Car-Car Lake in Itasca County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Itasca County, Minnesota, is where Minni-Car-Car Lake sits. It sits in pine and birch country. Around 29 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Cohasset at 28 miles is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Fargo, 140 miles distant. Also within reach: Raspberry Lake 0.4 miles away, 1.3 miles out stands Birds Eye Lake, Portage Lake 1.7 miles away, 1.7 miles out stands Sand Lake and Mushgee Lake 1.7 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Minni-Car-Car Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Itasca County include yellow perch, largemouth bass and northern pike. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Minni-Car-Car Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 4°F in January to roughly 67°F in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. On Minni-Car-Car Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. A boat ramp sits half a mile away, so trailered boats can get on. 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. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Raspberry Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Minni-Car-Car Lake is worth confirming on the day.