Second Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Second Lake falls inside Pine County. The surface lies 1,050 feet up. With some 41 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 1.0 miles on foot. Moose Lake at 10 miles is the nearest place to stop. Sandstone is 13 miles and Hinckley 22 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Second Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Pine County, recorded fish include northern pike, bluegill and largemouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. Second Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 8°F to 68°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. That shapes the year on Second Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Public toilets are recorded roughly 0.9 miles off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, First Lake is 0.8 miles distant. Where Second Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.