Dent Lake Fishing Guide, Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Lake County entry here is Dent Lake, in Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,749 feet. Roughly 102 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The full circuit measures close to 1.5 miles on foot. It sits higher than most water we list in Minnesota. Grand Marais sits 34 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 85 miles to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Dent Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. 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. Fish documented in Lake County include white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Dent Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 64°F, with January the cold end at about 4°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Anyone fishing Dent Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. 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. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Pat Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Dent Lake.