McNaught Lake near Ely: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  McNaught Lake is set in Lake County, Minnesota. It sits in lake country bush. Around 135 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Some 3.5 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. The nearest town is Ely, 22 miles away. For a city, Thunder Bay is 109 miles off. Near neighbours: Low Lake 1.4 miles away, Nest Lake sits 1.7 miles out, Kett Lake 2.2 miles away, Point Lake sits 2.3 miles out and Tuck Lake 2.5 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on McNaught Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Lake County, recorded fish include white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike and rainbow trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On McNaught Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 3°F at the bottom of winter. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan any trip to McNaught Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Low Lake is 1.4 miles off. Nothing on McNaught Lake should be assumed from this page alone.