Ima Lake in Lake County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Ima Lake is one of the Lake County listings for Minnesota. It lies 1,493 feet above sea level. This is sizeable water at about 748 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. The perimeter runs near 7.3 miles, so plan the walk before you start. On our Lake County list it sits near the top for size. The closest town, Ely, is 29 miles distant. Beyond it, Babbitt at 38 miles and Grand Marais at 47 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Ima Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Lake County cover white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Anyone new to Ima Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 65°F and January near 4°F on the long-run figures. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Ima Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Snatch Lake is 0.7 miles distant. The position on Ima Lake is worth confirming on the day.