Fishing at McNiece Lake, Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Minnesota holds McNiece in Lake County. It lies 1,447 feet above sea level. The water covers some 139 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The outline measures near 4.2 miles, so local knowledge counts. Ely at 30 miles is the nearest place to stop. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 102 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on McNiece Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Lake County cover white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On McNiece Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 65°F, the coldest about 3°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on McNiece Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Shan Walshe Lake, 0.9 miles out. Ask locally about McNiece Lake if anything is unclear.