Top 7 Fishing Spots In and Around Thief River Falls

Nov 12, 2021

Fishing is an enjoyable pastime that gives you the chance to get some fresh air and enjoy a beautiful natural setting while you drop a line in the water. Best of all, fishing is popular during any season of the year, with boat, shore, or pier fishing over the summer and ice fishing over the winter in colder climates. Local anglers may know of the many great fishing areas around Thief River Falls, Minnesota, thanks to the area’s plentiful lakes and rivers.

The team at Rydell Nissan of Grand Forks searched for some of the best local fishing spots and created this guide for your convenient reference.

Red Lake River in Thief River Falls, MN

3 People in a boat on a lake at sunset fishing

The Red Lake River is a state water trail in northwestern Minnesota that provides many excellent opportunities for year-round fishing. A popular fishing area on the Red Lake River is where the Thief, Clearwater, and Black rivers join at the Red Lake. Other quality fishing spots are in Crookston and Red Lake Falls, below the Otter Tail Power Company dams.

You can catch walleye, northern pike, crappie, and smallmouth bass in the Red Lake River. It’s also a great place to angle for channel catfish.

Maplelag Resort in Callaway, MN

Maplelag Resort offers an ideal relaxing respite for lovers of nature, with fishing as an added bonus. The rooms have no TV or phones to help your getaway truly get you away. Spend time with the family doing puzzles, playing board games, or preparing for the Saturday night talent show. Maplelag provides countless other entertainment opportunities throughout the year, including the hot tub and spa, bird-watching, skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and sledding.

Maplelag Resort is on the shore of Little Sugarbush Lake, where the fishing is great in winter or summer. For ice fishing, the resort has two fish houses available so you can fish in comfort. When you’re ready to drop your lines into the water in the warm months, the resort offers free canoes to guests. You’ll be able to try to catch giant walleyes and many other species in Little Sugarbush Lake.

Buffalo River State Park in Glyndon, MN

Buffalo River State Park offers a wonderful opportunity for a fishing excursion in warm weather. Stay for several days of fishing at the beautiful campgrounds. The park has 35 electric sites and amenities like showers, ring fire pits, and picnic tables.

Head over to River View Trail for some quality fishing. The river is narrow and shallow and offers many prime fishing locations. Channel catfish are a popular catch, and wading and fly-fishing are popular here too. This is a great location for fishing from spring through fall, with especially high catch levels in the spring as the water levels rise. The park only has four sites available over the winter season, so plan your fishing trips here for the warmer months.

Itasca State Park in Park Rapids, MN

Itasca State Park is Minnesota’s oldest state park and features over 100 lakes on its 32,000 acres of land. Lake Itasca is the largest lake, and it’s also the recognized headwater of the Mississippi River. Make sure to walk across the headwaters on your visit. The lake has a fishing pier, boat launch, and a concession stand that rents canoes and fishing boats. Or you can bring your own boat, and it’s worth it because you’re likely to catch plenty of walleyes, northern pike, bluegills, crappies, perch, and more on Lake Itasca.

Boat launches are available on Lake Ozawindib, Elk Lake, and Mary Lake. All the lakes at the state park are very undeveloped, which makes these areas more natural and peaceful for fishing excursions. Elk Lake is a deep, clear lake with a large stock of muskie, which is catch-and-release. Lake Ozawindib and Mary Lake are suitable for peaceful canoe fishing, and both lakes have large panfish populations.

Turtle River State Park in Arvilla, ND

The Civilian Conservation Corps built Turtle River State Park in the 1930s and the Turtle River flows through the park’s wooded valley. The state park offers enjoyable year-round activities like camping, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and sledding.

The Turtle River is stocked with rainbow trout and is a popular fly-fishing destination. You can also catch northern pike in the river, along with other species.

Tamarac Lake Fishing Pier in Erskine, MN

Rydell National Wildlife Refuge offers two access points to Tamarac Lake, the North Fishing Pier and the West Fishing Pier, accessed via trails from the Visitors Center. Tamarac Lake is 445 acres in size and only 11 feet at its deepest point. The lake has a high population of northern pike. Many other species abound in the lake, including bluegill, black crappies, panfish, and bullheads. The most common methods of fishing here are hook and bobber and casting crank-baits into the weeds surrounding the piers. Nets will help anglers bring fish in easier at Tamarac Lake.

Lake Bronson State Park in Lake Bronson, MN

Lake Bronson State Park is found between the Red River Valley and the aspen wooded area on the east. The diverse wildlife and beautiful lake make this a popular recreation area. Climb the tower for a bird’s-eye view of the park and to observe its 14 miles of hiking trails. The park offers 157 campsites and features a picnic area and shelter, a playground, a sandy swimming beach, and a volleyball court for family fun.

The park office offers boat, kayak, and canoe rentals, along with any necessary fishing equipment. Anglers may catch walleye pike, northern pike, bass, and perch on the lake or off one of the two fishing piers at Lake Bronson. Ice fishing is popular in the winter and the park has a warming house available to keep ice fishing enthusiasts warm.

How did we do in the compilation? Let us know what you think of our list of the top seven fishing spots around Thief River Falls. The friendly team at Rydell Nissan of Grand Forks wants to hear your feedback.