Camp Four Lake in Saint Louis County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Camp Four Lake sits within Saint Louis County in Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,417 feet. At roughly 16 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Most waters listed here for Saint Louis County are larger. For supplies, Mountain Iron is 9.4 miles out. Further out sit Chisholm (11 miles) and Parkville (11 miles). The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Camp Four Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Saint Louis County cover yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker, rainbow trout and walleye. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Anyone new to Camp Four Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 65°F for July and 5°F for January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Camp Four Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Tremblon Lake, 0.5 miles out. For Camp Four Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.