Rush Lake Fishing Guide, Chisago County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Rush Lake falls inside Chisago County. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. Around 5.2 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. The shoreline runs to about 27 miles, far more than one trip can cover. Among the waters listed for Chisago County, none is wider. 4.6 miles away sits Rush City, the nearest town. After that come Braham at 5.7 miles and Rock Creek at 6.3 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Rush Lake

  Survey data gives a maximum of roughly 46 feet. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Chisago County include largemouth bass, common carp, bluegill, yellow perch and black crappie. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Rush Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 9°F in January and 70°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Rush Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Pine Lake at 1.4 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Rush Lake is worth confirming on the day.