Hack Lake in Lake County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake County, Minnesota, is where Hack Lake sits. Height above sea level is 1,709 feet. About 15 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Lake County are larger. Supplies mean a trip to Ely, 38 miles off. Beyond it, Grand Marais at 38 miles and Babbitt at 46 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Hack Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Lake County cover white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Hack Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 64°F, with January the cold end at about 4°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. The water is typically free of ice between late April and mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Hack Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Hoe Lake, 0.2 miles out. Check the position at Hack Lake before loading the car.