Chant Lake near Ely: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Chant Lake is a Saint Louis County water, in Minnesota. The country here is rolling bush. Small at around 18 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Saint Louis County standards. Ely is the closest place, 5.9 miles off. Then Babbitt, 17 miles, and Hoyt Lakes, 31 miles. Others within reach: Shipman Bass Lake just 0.9 miles, Burntside Lake 1.3 miles, Geraldine Lake just 2.1 miles, Hanson Lake 2.3 miles and Twin Lakes just 2.3 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Chant Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Public occurrence data for Saint Louis County names yellow perch, northern pike and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Chant Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 3°F in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Chant Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. There are toilets half a mile off. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Shipman Bass Lake sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. For Chant Lake in particular, ask before you travel.