Olson Lake near Crosslake: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Olson Lake falls inside Crow Wing County. The surface lies 1,217 feet up. It runs to roughly 27 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Some 11 miles away sits Crosslake, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Aitkin at 12 miles and Crosby at 12 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Olson Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Crow Wing County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. The county list is broader than any single water. Work Olson Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 68°F and January at 7°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Olson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Upper Dean Wildlife Management Area runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Roger Lake, 0.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing here settles the position at Olson Lake for certain.