Gowan Lake near Ely: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  You will find Gowan Lake in Saint Louis County, Minnesota. What surrounds it is pine and birch. It measures about 132 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The whole outline is near 2.0 miles, and most of it is walkable. For supplies, Ely is 20 miles out. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 141 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Gowan Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name yellow perch, northern pike and white sucker. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Treat Gowan Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 65°F; by January the average is down near 2°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near mid November in autumn. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Plan around that when you fish Gowan Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Little Trout Lake is 1.8 miles off. Signs at Gowan Lake carry more weight than any list.