Eveleth Taconite Tailings Basin Fishing near Eveleth, Minnesota

• Overview

  Eveleth Taconite Tailings Basin is one of the Saint Louis County waters in Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,493 feet. It measures some 534 acres, and wind has room to build across it. Some 3.4 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. Size puts it in the front rank of our Saint Louis County list. Eveleth is the closest town at 7.8 miles. After that come Gilbert at 11 miles and Virginia at 12 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Eveleth Taconite Tailings Basin

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Survey and observation records for Saint Louis County include yellow perch, northern pike and white sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Eveleth Taconite Tailings Basin the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 66°F, while January sits near 4°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter locks it down, and late April brings it back. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Time your trip to Eveleth Taconite Tailings Basin by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. 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. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Failing this one, try Little Tony Lake, 0.7 miles away. The position on Eveleth Taconite Tailings Basin is worth confirming on the day.