Fishing at Kelly Lake, Itasca County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Kelly Lake belongs to Itasca County, Minnesota. The setting is pine and birch on every side. The water covers some 72 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 1.9 miles of margin, front to back. The closest town, Keewatin, is 23 miles distant. Then Coleraine, 26 miles, and Chisholm, 26 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Kelly Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name yellow perch, largemouth bass and northern pike. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Kelly Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 66°F at the top of summer and 5°F at the bottom of winter. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Kelly Lake.

• 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. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. George Washington State Forest takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Rainbow Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Ask locally about Kelly Lake if anything is unclear.