Fishing at Club Lake, Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Lake County end of Minnesota holds Club Lake. It lies 1,562 feet above sea level. It covers about 14 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Lake County. Nearest place of any size is Ely, 31 miles away. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 94 miles distant. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Club Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Lake County records list white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike among the fish reported. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Read Club Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 64°F, with January the cold end at about 4°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid usually goes in late April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Climate figures give an open season running late April to late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Club Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. 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. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Kaapoo Lake at 1 mile is the nearest alternative. The position on Club Lake is worth confirming on the day.