Mud Lake Fishing, W of Brainerd, Minnesota

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Mud Lake, in Crow Wing County. The water sits 1,220 feet up. Around 70 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The edge runs 1.4 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Nearest place of any size is Brainerd, 6.6 miles away. Further out sit Crosby (9 miles) and Baxter (11 miles). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Crow Wing County include largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Treat Mud Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 69°F, while January sits near 8°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. On Mud Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Twin Island Lake, 1.3 miles away. What applies at Mud Lake may have changed since it was mapped.