Spruce Lake Fishing near Crosby, Minnesota

• Overview

  Spruce Lake belongs to Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,253 feet. Surface area is around 61 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Crosby is the closest place, 10 miles off. The big place round here is Minneapolis, 101 miles distant. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Spruce Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Crow Wing County names largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Spruce Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 69°F and January at 7°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Spruce Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Laurel Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Spruce Lake is worth confirming on the day.