Fishing at Starvation Lake, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Starvation Lake in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota. It sits in pine and birch country. It covers about 18 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Mille Lacs County are larger. The nearest place of any size is Vineland, 4.2 miles away. Pierz is 17 miles away, with Brainerd at 22 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Starvation Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Mille Lacs County include largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and bluegill. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Starvation Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 69°F; the cold one sits at 8°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Starvation Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Horseshoe Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Starvation Lake are worth checking on the day.