Fishing at Griddle Lake, Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Griddle Lake belongs to Lake County. The surface lies 1,437 feet up. It runs to roughly 26 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Head to Ely, 20 miles away, for anything you forgot. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 106 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Griddle Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Lake County cover white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike and rainbow trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Anyone new to Griddle Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 4°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Griddle Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping shows a jetty some half a mile off. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. 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. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Flash Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. For Griddle Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.