Upper Pine Lake near Sandstone: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Pine County, Upper Pine Lake is a Minnesota water. The surface lies 1,089 feet up. It measures about 226 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Bank access stretches around 2.6 miles in total. Size puts it in the front rank of our Pine County list. Sandstone is the closest town at 8 miles. Hinckley follows at 13 miles, then Moose Lake at 22 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Upper Pine Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Pine County include northern pike, bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie and pumpkinseed. The county list is broader than any single water. On Upper Pine Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 7°F in January and 68°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. It holds true on Upper Pine Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Little Lake, 1.9 miles out. Confirm before you fish Upper Pine Lake.