Fishing Ogechie Lake in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Out in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, sits Ogechie Lake. Height above sea level is 1,243 feet. At some 393 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Vineland lies 1.1 miles from the water. Beyond it, Pierz at 20 miles and Crosby at 25 miles. Alternatives close at hand: Twelve Lake out at 2.6 miles, Mud Lake within 3.2 miles, Starvation Lake out at 3.4 miles, Black Bass Lake within 3.6 miles and Spring Lake out at 3.6 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Ogechie Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Survey and observation records for Mille Lacs County include largemouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Ogechie Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 68°F; by January the average is down near 8°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Ogechie Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. There are toilets half a mile off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Twelve Lake sits 2.6 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Ogechie Lake may have changed since it was mapped.