Fishing at Florence Lake, Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Florence Lake sits in Lake County, out in Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,742 feet. With some 33 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Compared with other Minnesota water on our list, it sits high. For a base, Grand Marais sits 31 miles out. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 82 miles distant. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Florence Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Lake County, recorded fish include white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Take Florence Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 64°F, the coldest about 4°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. The season on Florence Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Chuck Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Florence Lake as something to verify.