Ruth Lake Fishing in Cass County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Ruth Lake in the Cass County part of Minnesota. It sits at 1,191 feet above sea level. Around 92 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. With about 1.4 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. For supplies, East Gull Lake is 1.5 miles out. After that come Lake Shore at 4.3 miles and Baxter at 6.2 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Ruth Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for Cass County include largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill and walleye. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Ruth Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 8°F to 69°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. The season between ice runs from about mid April to late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It holds true on Ruth Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Echo Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Ruth Lake in what we hold.