Nebish Lake Fishing in Beltrami County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Nebish Lake belongs to Beltrami County, Minnesota. The country here is pine and birch. The water covers some 72 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 1.2 miles of margin, front to back. Redby sits 7.6 miles from the bank. For a city, Fargo is 109 miles off. Other water nearby: Smyth Lake at 0.7 miles, Bass Lake at about 1.2 miles, Marcus Lake at 1.4 miles, Little Rice Lake at about 1.5 miles and Dark Lake at 2.4 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Nebish Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Beltrami County records list walleye, yellow perch and northern pike among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The near bank of Nebish Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 67°F, while January sits near 3°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Nebish Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Smyth Lake, 0.7 miles away. Confirm access to Nebish Lake locally before you travel.