Eskwagama Lake Fishing near Ely, Minnesota

• Overview

  You will find Eskwagama Lake in Lake County, Minnesota. It sits at 1,430 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 89 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge runs 1.8 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The town to know is Ely, 10 miles out. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 116 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Eskwagama Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Eskwagama Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 4°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Time your trip to Eskwagama Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Clear Lake, 0.9 miles away. For Eskwagama Lake in particular, ask before you travel.