Roosevelt Lake Fishing in Cass County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Roosevelt Lake lies in Cass County, Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,266 feet. At some 1,498 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. There is roughly 16 miles of bank, and each arm behaves like its own water. It ranks high for size among our Cass County listings. Nearest place of any size is Crosslake, 12 miles away. It is 130 miles to Minneapolis, the nearest city. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Roosevelt Lake

  The deepest measured water here is close to 147 feet. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Cass County include largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, walleye and northern pike. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. At Roosevelt Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 6°F to 68°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It holds true on Roosevelt Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Smoky Hollow Lake is 1 mile distant. For Roosevelt Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.