West Smith Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  West Smith Lake sits within Itasca County in Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,381 feet. It runs to roughly 33 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Cohasset at 20 miles is the nearest place to stop. After that come Coleraine at 20 miles and Grand Rapids at 22 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on West Smith Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Itasca County cover yellow perch, largemouth bass and northern pike. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At West Smith Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 4°F in January up to 67°F in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. The season between ice runs from about mid April to late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on West Smith Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Tamarack Lake sits 0.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat access at West Smith Lake as something to verify.