Keefer Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Lake County end of Minnesota holds Keefer Lake. The bank is 1,398 feet above sea level. About 595 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. The shoreline runs about 13 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It ranks high for size among our Lake County listings. Atikokan lies 32 miles from the water. Ely lies 34 miles off, Babbitt another 47 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Keefer Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Lake County, recorded fish include white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Keefer Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 2°F to 65°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Keefer Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Trant Lake, 1.2 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Keefer Lake for certain.