Fishing Roothouse Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Out in Itasca County, Minnesota, sits Roothouse Lake. Elevation runs to 1,263 feet. Surface area is around 34 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Coleraine lies 16 miles from the water. Beyond it, Grand Rapids at 16 miles and Cohasset at 21 miles. Close by you have: Reed Lake some 1.1 miles off, McGuire Lake just 1.8 miles, Austin Lake some 2.1 miles off, Spot Lake just 2.1 miles and Bog Lake some 2.2 miles off. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Roothouse Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Itasca County cover yellow perch, largemouth bass and northern pike. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The shape of Roothouse Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 67°F on average, January about 5°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Roothouse Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Reed Lake at 1.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Roothouse Lake.