Fishing Horsefish Lake in Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Horsefish Lake stands in Lake County, Minnesota. The water sits 1,644 feet up. Around 51 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The edge runs 1.8 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It sits higher than most water we list in Minnesota. Ely lies 38 miles from the water. After that come Grand Marais at 39 miles and Babbitt at 47 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Horsefish Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Lake County: white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Fish Horsefish Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 4°F in January and 64°F in July. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Time your trip to Horsefish Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The water borders 3, so reserve rules are likely to apply. 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. Kaiak Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Horsefish Lake are worth checking on the day.