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Minnesota · Fishing
Eagle Lake Township sits in a quiet corner of Minnesota lake country with four fishable lakes within reach: Hancock, Eagle, Belmont, and Jolly Ann.
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Eagle Lake Township sits in a quiet corner of Minnesota lake country with four fishable lakes within reach: Hancock, Eagle, Belmont, and Jolly Ann. None of them are destination waters you'll see on a magazine cover, which is part of the appeal — you're more likely to have a shoreline or a launch to yourself than you are at the bigger regional draws. All four are lake fishing setups, meaning you're working open water rather than moving current, and the typical Minnesota mixed bag applies: largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish like bluegill and crappie, and walleye depending on the specific lake's depth and structure. The township doesn't have a lot of commercial infrastructure around it, so this is the kind of place where you bring what you need before you arrive. A Minnesota fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older, and the state's standard slot and bag limits apply unless a specific lake has a special regulation posted on the DNR's lake finder tool. If you're driving in from outside the area, checking that tool for each lake by name before you leave home is worth the five minutes it takes.
Shore fishing is realistic on smaller, shallower lakes like Jolly Ann and Belmont, where you can reach productive weed edges and drop-offs without a boat. On Eagle Lake and Hancock Lake, a kayak, canoe, or small motorboat will open up significantly more water and let you work deeper structure where walleye and northern pike tend to hold.
The four lakes here are typical Minnesota glacial lakes, so expect northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and potentially walleye. The specific mix varies by lake — check the Minnesota DNR Lake Finder for each lake's survey data, which will tell you what species have been documented and in what relative abundance.
Eagle Lake
~0 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MN.
Hancock Lake
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MN.
Belmont Lake
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MN.
Jolly Ann Lake
~6 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MN.
Long Lake
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MN.
Toms Lake
~11 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MN.
Stalker Lake
~12 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MN.
Snow Lakes
~18 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MN.
Briggs Lake
~21 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MN.
Shady Grove Lake
~23 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MN.
Erwin Lake
~24 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MN.
Mud Lake
~24 min drive
A worthwhile stop near MN.
The Minnesota walleye and bass season opens in mid-May, and the weeks right after ice-out are productive for northern pike and panfish. Early summer through late June tends to be the most active period before heat pushes fish deeper. Fall fishing in September and October picks back up as water temperatures drop and fish feed aggressively before winter.
Early morning and the hour before sunset are consistently the most productive windows for bass and walleye, which move shallower to feed in low light. Panfish like bluegill and crappie can be caught throughout the day, especially near submerged vegetation. Midday in summer is generally the slowest period.
Eagle Lake Township itself is a rural township without commercial services on-site. Plan to pick up live bait, licenses, and any gear in a nearby town before heading out. Buying your Minnesota fishing license online through the DNR before you leave home is the most reliable option.
