Fishing Plough Lake in Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Plough Lake belongs to Lake County, Minnesota. Land around it is pine and birch. It runs to roughly 121 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The outline measures near 6.1 miles, so local knowledge counts. The closest town, Ely, is 36 miles distant. For a city, Thunder Bay is 91 miles off. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Plough Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Lake County include white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike and rainbow trout. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. The shape of Plough Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 4°F in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plough Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Amik Lake, 0.3 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Plough Lake.