Little Crab Lake near Ely: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Little Crab Lake in the Saint Louis County part of Minnesota. It lies 1,450 feet above sea level. With some 58 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Bank access stretches around 1.6 miles in total. Supplies mean a trip to Ely, 10 miles off. Further out sit Babbitt (18 miles) and Hoyt Lakes (30 miles). No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Little Crab Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Saint Louis County: yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Little Crab Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 2°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Time your trip to Little Crab Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Lunetta Lake at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Little Crab Lake for certain.