Fishing Raven Lake in Cass County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Raven Lake lies in Cass County, Minnesota. It stands 1,280 feet above sea level. The nearest place of any size is Bemidji, 26 miles away. It is 123 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. Also worth knowing: Rabbits Lake at about 1.1 miles, Sugar Lake Impoundment sits 1.6 miles out, Sugar Lake at about 1.8 miles, Kenogama Lake sits 2.2 miles out and Minisogama Lake at about 2.7 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Raven Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Cass County: largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Raven Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 67°F at the top of summer and 5°F at the bottom of winter. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. That shapes the year on Raven Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. 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. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Rabbits Lake at 1.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Raven Lake.