Fishing Ethel Lake in Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Ethel Lake lies in Itasca County, in Minnesota. It lies 1,371 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 19 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Itasca County standards. 25 miles away sits Cohasset, the nearest town. Fargo is the closest city, 156 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Ethel Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Itasca County cover yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill and black crappie. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The near bank of Ethel Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 4°F in January. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. At Ethel Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Snow Lake sits 0.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Ethel Lake before loading the car.