Fishing Widow Lake in Cass County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Widow Lake lies within the bounds of Cass County, Minnesota. Around the bank it is rolling bush. The water covers some 199 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 2.4 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Few waters listed in Cass County are bigger. The nearest town is Crosslake, 21 miles away. After that come Pequot Lakes at 22 miles and Breezy Point at 23 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Widow Lake

  The basin drops to a measured 54 feet. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Cass County cover largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of Widow Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 6°F and July at about 68°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan around that when you fish Widow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, I X L Lake is 0.7 miles distant. The position on Widow Lake is worth confirming on the day.