Thief Lake Fishing in Marshall County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Thief Lake is a Marshall County water, in Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,145 feet. Surface area runs to some 10.2 sq miles, so a boat and a plan are both worth having. The edge covers about 13 miles, enough to hold several distinct areas. It is the biggest water on our Marshall County list. 25 miles away sits Roseau, the nearest town. After that come Thief River Falls at 29 miles and Warroad at 39 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Thief Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Marshall County, recorded fish include white sucker, black bullhead and black crappie. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Thief Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 2°F in January and 67°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. The season on Thief Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, Webster Lake is 5.7 miles distant. The position on Thief Lake is worth confirming on the day.