Spearns Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Spearns Lake lies in Cass County, in Minnesota. The surroundings are mixed forest. Small at around 22 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Nearest place of any size is Crosslake, 26 miles away. It is 118 miles to Fargo, the nearest city. Also within reach: Mud Lake 0.5 miles off, Silver Lake the better part of 0.8 miles, Pollywog Lake 0.8 miles off, Little Silver Lake the better part of 1.2 miles and Blot Lake 1.2 miles off. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Spearns Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Cass County include largemouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill and walleye. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Treat Spearns Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 6°F to 68°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. At Spearns Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Mud Lake, 0.5 miles away. For Spearns Lake in particular, ask before you travel.