Kett Lake Fishing in Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Set in Lake County, Kett Lake is a Minnesota water. The bank is 1,345 feet above sea level. Roughly 356 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. The shoreline runs about 9.0 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Lake County. Ely is the closest town at 20 miles. For a city, Thunder Bay is 111 miles off. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Kett Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Lake County include white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish Kett Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 3°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Kett Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Nub Lake at 1.6 miles is the sensible second choice. For Kett Lake in particular, ask before you travel.