Little Lake Fishing near Grand Marais, Minnesota

• Overview

  Little Lake belongs to Cook County, Minnesota. The water sits 1,634 feet up. Surface area runs to about 10 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Cook County standards. The closest town, Grand Marais, is 5.3 miles distant. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 62 miles away. Others close at hand: 2.7 miles away is Benson Lake, Elbow Lake 2.7 miles, 3.7 miles away is Pickerel Lake, Kimball Lake 3.8 miles and 4.3 miles away is Mink Lake. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Little Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Cook County include white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Little Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 9°F in January and 63°F in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Little Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Benson Lake, 2.7 miles out. Rules at Little Lake are worth checking on the day.