Fishing at Clark Lake, Saint Louis County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Clark Lake belongs to Saint Louis County, Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,463 feet. Surface area is around 71 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The bank runs about 1.7 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. The closest town, Ely, is 10 miles distant. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 134 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Clark Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Saint Louis County: yellow perch, northern pike and white sucker. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Anyone new to Clark Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 2°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Clark Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Glimmer Lake at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Clark Lake should be assumed from this page alone.