Pig Lake in Crow Wing County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Pig Lake is a Crow Wing County water, in Minnesota. Around the bank it is lake country bush. It runs to roughly 189 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Crosslake lies 3.5 miles from the water. Fargo sits 124 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Pig Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Crow Wing County include largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At Pig Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 69°F; by January the average is down near 7°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Pig Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. 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. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Little Bass Lake at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Pig Lake before loading the car.