Fishing at Town Line Lake, Cass County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Town Line Lake in the Cass County part of Minnesota. This is mixed forest country. About 659 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The shoreline runs about 6.0 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. On our Cass County list it sits near the top for size. 29 miles away sits Crosslake, the nearest town. After that come Cohasset at 31 miles and Pequot Lakes at 32 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Town Line Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Cass County include largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. The county list is broader than any single water. At Town Line Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 68°F and January reads 6°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. On Town Line Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Aultman Lake, 1.1 miles away. The position on Town Line Lake is worth confirming on the day.