Mud Lake Fishing, E of Park Rapids, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Mud Lake belongs to Becker County. The setting is lake country bush. For a base, Park Rapids sits 12 miles out. Beyond it, Menahga at 15 miles and Frazee at 23 miles. Near neighbours include: Gyles Lake after 1.1 miles, Straight Lake about 2.5 miles, Elbow Lake after 2.5 miles, Bog Lake about 2.9 miles and Cranberry Lake after 3 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name bluegill, largemouth bass, walleye and northern pike. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Mud Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 68°F and January near 4°F on the long-run figures. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about mid November in an average year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan any trip to Mud Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Gyles Lake is 1.1 miles off. What applies at Mud Lake may have changed since it was mapped.