Gander Lake Fishing in Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Gander Lake lies in Lake County, in Minnesota. It sits in rolling bush. The water covers some 115 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Shoreline comes to about 2.4 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Compared with other Minnesota water on our list, it sits high. Nearest town is Babbitt, 20 miles off. Further out sit Ely (22 miles) and Silver Bay (30 miles). Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Gander Lake

  Published depth figures reach 5.6 feet at the lowest point. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Lake County cover white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Gander Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 64°F and January reads 4°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. From about late April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. At Gander Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Dragon Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Gander Lake.