Mud Lake Fishing near Bemidji, Minnesota

• Overview

  Mud Lake is one of the Hubbard County waters in Minnesota. It stands 1,299 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 81 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Bemidji at 11 miles is the nearest place to stop. Further out sit Bagley (35 miles) and Redby (35 miles). The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name walleye, northern pike and black crappie. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Take Mud Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 67°F and January reads 4°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Mud Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. Wolf Lake Wildlife Management Area, Hubbard County Unit covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Little Wolf Lake is 0.9 miles distant. Where Mud Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.