Fishing at Harris Lake, Saint Louis County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Harris Lake lies in Saint Louis County, Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,572 feet. Roughly 66 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The full circuit measures close to 1.6 miles on foot. It sits higher than most water we list in Minnesota. Head to Hoyt Lakes, 17 miles away, for anything you forgot. Then Aurora, 19 miles, and Gilbert, 25 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Harris Lake

  The charted maximum sits at about 43 feet. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker, rainbow trout and walleye. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Work Harris Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 65°F; the cold one sits at 4°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on Harris Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Otto Lake at 3 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Harris Lake is worth confirming on the day.