Star Lake near Staples: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  You will find Star Lake in Morrison County, Minnesota. It stands 1,378 feet above sea level. It measures about 55 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. About 1.7 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. For a base, Staples sits 13 miles out. After that come Long Prairie at 17 miles and Little Falls at 20 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Star Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name largemouth bass, bluegill and northern pike. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Star Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 8°F and July at about 69°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Star Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. 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. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Bee Tree Lake is 0.4 miles off. Treat Star Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.