Bertha Lake is a lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Bertha Lake covers about 335 acres, reaches a recorded 70 feet and holds about 9,302 acre-feet.
How the Size and Shape of Bertha Lake Affect Fishing
Bertha Lake is small enough to check weeds, wood, rock and the first deep drop without spending the whole day moving around.
Fish and Baits at Bertha Lake
Fish reported from Bertha Lake include banded killifish, black bullhead, black crappie, blackchin shiner, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, bowfin, brown bullhead, burbot, cisco, common shiner, fathead minnow, golden shiner, greater redhorse, green sunfish, hornyhead chub, iowa darter, johnny darter, lake whitefish, largemouth bass, logperch, longear sunfish, longnose dace, mimic shiner, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse, smallmouth bass, spottail shiner, tadpole madtom, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.
Bass
For bass at Bertha, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth, and work a tube, Ned rig or small crankbait across rock and firm points for smallmouth.
Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish
For panfish at Bertha, use a small jig or minnow beside brush for crappie, and fish a worm, cricket or tiny jig near weeds for bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, and longear sunfish, and keep a small jig, minnow or worm close to bottom for yellow perch.
Walleye
For roaming fish at Bertha, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.
Northern Pike
For large predators at Bertha, cast a spoon, spinnerbait or swimbait beside weeds for northern pike.
Bullheads
For bottom fishing at Bertha, fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads.
Other Reported Fish
Other choices at Bertha include these plans: work a tough soft plastic or cut bait near weeds and wood for bowfin.
Rock Bass
At Bertha, 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 Bertha, 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 Bertha Lake
Spring at Bertha is a good time to check warm coves and incoming water, and summer fishing is usually better in cooler, deeper water. Fall at Bertha can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.
A Simple Plan for Fishing Bertha Lake
On a first trip to Bertha, 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 Bertha Lake
A medium spinning rod covers smaller lures at Bertha, while a heavier rod and stronger leader are better for northern pike.
Bertha Lake FAQs
Where should an angler start on the 335-acre Bertha Lake?
At Bertha, 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 70-foot deep end of Bertha Lake?
Not every trip. A better place at Bertha is where a point, drop-off or group of baitfish gives the fish a reason to stop.
What does the 9,302 acre-foot storage figure mean at Bertha Lake?
At Bertha, it shows that a lot of the water sits away from the bank and around the old channel or deep end.