Turtle Lake Fishing near Cohasset, Minnesota

• Overview

  Turtle Lake is an Itasca County water, Minnesota side. It lies 1,348 feet above sea level. About 3.3 sq miles, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The outline measures near 21 miles, so a boat opens up water the bank never reaches. Size puts it in the front rank of our Itasca County list. Supplies mean a trip to Cohasset, 25 miles off. Fargo is the closest city, 153 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Turtle Lake

  The charted maximum sits at about 150 feet. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Itasca County records list yellow perch, largemouth bass and northern pike among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Turtle Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 4°F in January. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Time your trip to Turtle Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Grass Lake, 1.1 miles away. Ask locally about Turtle Lake if anything is unclear.