Moonshine Lake Fishing Guide, Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Moonshine Lake falls inside Itasca County. The bank gives way to mixed forest. Roughly 26 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Start from Coleraine, 13 miles down the road. After that come Cohasset at 15 miles and Grand Rapids at 16 miles. Others worth noting: Beavertail Lake within 0.5 miles, Bee Cee Lake at 0.7 miles, Sunrise Lake within 1.1 miles, Francis Lake at 1.2 miles and Skeeter Lake within 1.3 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Moonshine Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Itasca County: yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill. The county list is broader than any single water. The near bank of Moonshine Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 67°F; by January the average is down near 5°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Plan around that when you fish Moonshine Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Beavertail Lake at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Moonshine Lake.