Fishing Icicle Lake in Cook County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Within Cook County, Minnesota, you have Icicle Lake. It stands 1,886 feet above sea level. At 19 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The full circuit measures close to 0.9 miles on foot. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Minnesota listings. You are 19 miles from Grand Marais. Beyond it, Neebing at 52 miles and Silver Bay at 60 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Icicle Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Cook County include white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Icicle Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 63°F and January at 5°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Climate figures give an open season running late April to mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On Icicle Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Snack Lake is 0.4 miles off. Rules at Icicle Lake are worth checking on the day.