Fishing at Little Markham Lake, Saint Louis County, Minnesota

• Overview

  This water sits in Saint Louis County, Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,424 feet. The water covers some 45 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 1.1 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Aurora at 15 miles is the nearest place to stop. It is 157 miles to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Little Markham Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Saint Louis County cover yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker and rainbow trout. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Little Markham Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 4°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Ice clears near late April and comes back about late November in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Little Markham Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Markham Lake at 1.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Little Markham Lake before loading the car.