Lake Itasca is a lake in Minnesota, near Clearwater County.
Lake Itasca near 47.2156, -95.2007 is a lake in Clearwater County, Minnesota. Lake Itasca covers about 1,065 acres, reaches a recorded 45 feet and holds about 17,232 acre-feet.
Lake Itasca is the lake where the Mississippi River begins. It is much smaller than many famous Minnesota lakes, and its weed lines, points and river connection give anglers a manageable way to search for walleye, pike, bass and panfish.
The reported fish at Lake Itasca include muskellunge, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, black crappie, and yellow perch. That mix gives anglers more than one sensible way to fish Lake Itasca.
Fish reported from Lake Itasca include banded killifish, black bullhead, black crappie, blackchin shiner, blacknose shiner, bluegill, bluntnose minnow, brook stickleback, brown bullhead, central mudminnow, cisco, creek chub, fathead minnow, golden shiner, green sunfish, iowa darter, johnny darter, largemouth bass, mottled sculpin, muskellunge, northern pike, northern redbelly dace, pumpkinseed, rock bass, tadpole madtom, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.
For bass at Lake Itasca, fish weeds, wood and shade with a spinnerbait, jig or Texas-rigged worm for largemouth.
For panfish at Lake Itasca, 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.
For roaming fish at Lake Itasca, jig a minnow or troll a crankbait along points and deeper edges for walleye.
For large predators at Lake Itasca, 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.
For bottom fishing at Lake Itasca, fish a worm or small piece of cut bait in quiet water for bullheads.
At Lake Itasca, use a small jig, worm or tiny crankbait around rock and firm shorelines for rock bass.
For other cold-water fish at Lake Itasca, use a tiny jig or small spoon at the depth where cisco are schooling.
Pick one manageable part of Lake Itasca. Start at Lake Itasca with a moving lure along a point, weed edge, rocky bank or narrow passage, then slow down with a jig, worm or minnow at the depth where the first bite comes.
On a first trip to Lake Itasca, 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.
Spring at Lake Itasca 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 Lake Itasca can bring fish back to windy points and banks, while winter calls for smaller baits fished slowly.
A medium spinning rod covers smaller lures at Lake Itasca, while a heavier rod and stronger leader are better for pike or muskellunge.
Choose one point, weed edge, rocky bank or narrow passage on Lake Itasca that sits near deeper water, then test two lure depths before moving.
The reported 45-foot depth at Lake Itasca marks the deepest spot, but fish still need bait and a reason to stop there.
Muskellunge appears in the fish record for Lake Itasca, so choose a lure and location that fit that fish.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.