Fishing Roland Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Roland Lake is set in Itasca County, Minnesota. The bank gives way to mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 21 acres — small enough to read in one session. Our Itasca County list holds plenty of bigger water. The closest town, Cohasset, is 14 miles away. Coleraine follows at 15 miles, then Grand Rapids at 16 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Roland Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Itasca County cover yellow perch, largemouth bass and northern pike. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Roland Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 67°F in July and bottom out at 4°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. It sets the rhythm of the year at Roland Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Circle Lake is 0.3 miles distant. Treat Roland Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.