Chad Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Chad Lake sits in Saint Louis County, out in Minnesota. The water sits 1,404 feet up. This is sizeable water at about 277 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. The perimeter runs near 5.2 miles, so plan the walk before you start. Few waters listed in Saint Louis County are bigger. The town to know is Ely, 17 miles out. Further out sit Babbitt (22 miles) and Aurora (31 miles). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Chad Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name yellow perch, northern pike and white sucker. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Read Chad Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 65°F and January near 2°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. The water is typically free of ice between late April and mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Chad Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Dugout Lake is 1.2 miles distant. Confirm access to Chad Lake locally before you travel.