Fishing Itasca State Park

[Slade247]

We are camping at Itasca State Park for Memorial Day weekend, and our campsite is right off the water, at least the way it looks on the HSOforum when we reserved it. I am wondering if you can just fish right from the campsites or how close the water actually is to the campsite. If anyone has been there or camped there and could give me some information on the sites close to the water it would be great. Thanks

[minndonn]

You can fish right out from the campground or go straight out further to some islands in the main part of the lake. On Memorial we have had fair success.

[Slade247]

Thanks, yeah I didn't know if there was like woods or anything between the actual campsite and the water.

[IFallsRon]

If you're in Bearhead, you're next to the lake but not exactly close to the water. There's stairs/trails down to the lake. Depending on water level, you can walk down to the shore but there's plenty of grass and weeds before you can get to fishing-depth water. We have fished but with mixed results, depending on the time of year. There's alot of rigs in the ramp area near the bike rental place and we generally see plenty of people using the fish-cleaning building whenever we've passed by. Same goes for the fish-cleaning building in Bearhead.

I spent one or more afternoons on Elk Lake, trying for trout. It's pretty deep. I was marking plenty of fish deep on the finder but have never had any luck.

[PRWoody]

You will have to walk to the lake from Bearpaw campground.

In some cases probably no more than 50 steps! There is

good fishing on the north end of the campground and also

off the west end. Good chance of using a slip bobber at

either location for panfish and walleyes.

Good camping.

Try Lobos on highway 200 for good food and beverages.

Just take a right at the north entrance. About 2-3 miles

down the road!

Remember there is a limit restriction for crappies on

Itasca.

[Lund4ver]

Always have had good luck on the lake formerly known as Squaw Lake, back on the forest loop road....Not right in the campground though.

[Slade247]

Went fishing from our campsite, didn't catch anything with no bites but I just wanted to get a line in the water. It was a fun time thanks for the tips and advice.