Humpback Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Humpback Lake lies in Lake County, Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,604 feet. About 23 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Compared with other Minnesota water on our list, it sits high. For supplies, Ely is 36 miles out. Further out sit Grand Marais (39 miles) and Babbitt (44 miles). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Humpback Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Lake County include white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike and rainbow trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Humpback Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 4°F in January and 64°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan any trip to Humpback Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Hat Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for Humpback Lake in what we hold.