Heart Lake near Ely: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Lake County end of Minnesota holds Heart Lake. Beyond the shoreline you have pine and birch. It measures about 36 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. With about 1.1 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Head to Ely, 14 miles away, for anything you forgot. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 119 miles distant. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Heart Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Lake County include white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Heart Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 4°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about late November in a typical year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan any trip to Heart Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Harris Lake, 1.4 miles out. For Heart Lake in particular, ask before you travel.