Fools Lake Fishing Guide, Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Fools Lake lies in Lake County, Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,690 feet. With some 30 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. Start from Babbitt, 14 miles down the road. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 124 miles away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Fools Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Lake County records list white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Fools Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 64°F and January near 4°F on the long-run figures. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Fools Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Bonga Lake is 1.2 miles off. For Fools Lake in particular, ask before you travel.