Fishing at Side Lake, Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Side Lake stands in Lake County, Minnesota. The setting is rolling bush on every side. Around 61 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The bank runs about 2.8 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Ely lies 25 miles from the water. It is 106 miles to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Side Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Lake County: white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Side Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 65°F in July and bottoms out near 3°F in January. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Side Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Isabella Lake, 1.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Side Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.