Lake Irving is a lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. Lake Irving covers about 661 acres, reaches a recorded 16 feet and holds about 5,053 acre-feet.
How the Size and Shape of Lake Irving Affect Fishing
Lake Irving is small enough to check weeds, wood, rock and the first deep drop without spending the whole day moving around.
Fish and Baits at Lake Irving
Fish reported from Lake Irving include banded killifish, black bullhead, black crappie, blackchin shiner, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, bowfin, brassy minnow, brown bullhead, burbot, central mudminnow, cisco, common shiner, fathead minnow, golden shiner, greater redhorse, green sunfish, iowa darter, johnny darter, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, logperch, mimic shiner, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, spottail shiner, tadpole madtom, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.
Bass
For bass at Irving, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth.
Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish
For panfish at Irving, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill, pumpkinseed, and green sunfish, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.
Walleye
For roaming fish at Irving, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.
Muskellunge and Pike
For large predators at Irving, throw a bucktail, jerkbait or large rubber lure along points and weed edges for muskellunge, and cast a spoon, spinnerbait or swimbait beside weeds for northern pike.
Bullheads
For bottom fishing at Irving, fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads.
Other Reported Fish
Other choices at Irving include these plans: work a tough soft plastic or cut bait near weeds and wood for bowfin.
Rock Bass
At Irving, use a small jig, worm or tiny crankbait around rock and firm shorelines for rock bass.
Cisco, Lake Whitefish, and Burbot
For other cold-water fish at Irving, use a tiny jig or small spoon at the depth where cisco are schooling, and keep a small jig or natural bait near clean bottom for lake whitefish, and fish a glow jig or natural bait close to bottom after dark for burbot.
How the Seasons Change Lake Irving
Spring at Irving is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer is a good time to fish shade, weeds and the first drop into deeper water. Fall at Irving can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.
A Simple Plan for Fishing Lake Irving
On a first trip to Irving, check one quiet cove, one rocky or firm point and the nearby deep water with a moving lure, then use a jig or worm where you find fish.
Useful Tackle for Lake Irving
A medium spinning rod covers smaller lures at Irving, while a heavier rod and stronger leader are better for pike or muskellunge.
Lake Irving FAQs
Where should an angler start on the 661-acre Lake Irving?
At Irving, pick one cove and the closest point or drop into deep water, then fish that small area well before making a long move.
Should anglers fish the 16-foot deep end of Lake Irving?
Not every trip. A better place at Irving is where a point, drop-off or group of baitfish gives the fish a reason to stop.
What does the 5,053 acre-foot storage figure mean at Lake Irving?
At Irving, it shows that a lot of the water sits away from the bank and around the old channel or deep end.