Fishing at Holmsey Lake, Saint Louis County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Saint Louis County entry here is Holmsey Lake, in Minnesota. It stands 1,480 feet above sea level. Small at around 11 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Saint Louis County are larger. Nearest town is Two Harbors, 18 miles off. Thunder Bay sits 146 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Holmsey Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Saint Louis County cover yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker and rainbow trout. The county list is broader than any single water. At Holmsey Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 5°F to 65°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan any trip to Holmsey Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. James Lake sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Holmsey Lake before loading the car.