Gunstock Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Gunstock Lake lies within the bounds of Cook County, Minnesota. The water sits 1,867 feet up. At 12 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Cook County list holds plenty of bigger water. The nearest place of any size is Grand Marais, 25 miles away. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 75 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Gunstock Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Cook County: white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Gunstock Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 5°F in January up to 63°F in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. At Gunstock Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Cleft Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Gunstock Lake in what we hold.