Fishing Ox Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Crow Wing County entry here is Ox Lake, in Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,224 feet. Roughly 242 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The outline measures near 4.1 miles, so local knowledge counts. Size puts it in the front rank of our Crow Wing County list. For supplies, Crosslake is 3.7 miles out. Breezy Point follows at 9.8 miles, then Pequot Lakes at 12 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Ox Lake

  Depth records show about 80 feet at the bottom of the basin. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Public occurrence data for Crow Wing County names largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch, northern pike and pumpkinseed. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Ox Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 69°F and January near 7°F on the long-run figures. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Ox Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Loon Lake sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat Ox Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.