Round Lake Fishing near Aitkin, Minnesota

• Overview

  Round Lake is listed under Aitkin County, Minnesota. It stands 1,201 feet above sea level. Roughly 178 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. There is roughly 2.1 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Supplies mean a trip to Aitkin, 18 miles off. The big place round here is Minneapolis, 116 miles distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Round Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Aitkin County include northern pike, bluegill and yellow perch. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Fish Round Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 68°F and January at 6°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Round Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Davis Lake, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Where Round Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.