Taylor Lake Fishing in Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Itasca County in Minnesota is where Taylor Lake sits. The water sits 1,312 feet up. It measures about 34 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Head to Cohasset, 22 miles away, for anything you forgot. Grand Rapids lies 26 miles off, Coleraine another 26 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Taylor Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Itasca County: yellow perch, largemouth bass and northern pike. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Anyone new to Taylor Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 67°F in July and bottom out at 4°F in January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Taylor Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Little Jessie Lake, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Taylor Lake is worth confirming on the day.