North Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  North Lake is listed under Stearns County, Minnesota. It sits in pine and birch. At about 71 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The full circuit measures close to 1.3 miles on foot. Albany sits 0.4 miles from the bank. After that come Avon at 5.8 miles and Collegeville at 10 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on North Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Stearns County records list largemouth bass, bluegill, northern pike, walleye and black crappie among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On North Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 71°F; by January the average is down near 10°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The lid tends to go about early April and return around late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan around that when you fish North Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. A toilet block sits half a mile away. 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. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Schwinghamer Lake is 1.9 miles off. Rules at North Lake are worth checking on the day.