Fishing Simpson Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Itasca County end of Minnesota holds Simpson Lake. What surrounds it is mixed forest. It runs to roughly 32 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Nearest town is Cohasset, 31 miles off. Then Grand Rapids, 35 miles, and Bemidji, 35 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Simpson Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Itasca County include yellow perch, largemouth bass and northern pike. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Simpson Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 67°F, the coldest about 4°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. That is the shape of the year on Simpson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Biauswah Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. For Simpson Lake in particular, ask before you travel.