Fishing at South Smith Lake, Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  You will find South Smith Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. Surface area is around 64 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Cohasset lies 19 miles from the water. After that come Coleraine at 19 miles and Grand Rapids at 21 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on South Smith Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Itasca County records list yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At South Smith Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 67°F and January about 4°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on South Smith Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Duck Lake, 0.4 miles out. Treat access at South Smith Lake as something to verify.