Dead Fish Lake in Carlton County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Carlton County end of Minnesota holds Dead Fish Lake. The surroundings are rolling bush. The water covers some 84 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 1.5 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Cloquet lies 11 miles from the water. The big place round here is Minneapolis, 125 miles distant. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Dead Fish Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name bluegill, yellow perch and black crappie. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Read Dead Fish Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 67°F and January about 7°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It sets the rhythm of the year at Dead Fish Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Lac Lake, 0.7 miles out. None of that is settled for Dead Fish Lake in what we hold.