Fishing Lois Lake in Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Lois in Lake County. The bank gives way to rolling bush. At roughly 12 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Lake County. The closest town, Ely, is 29 miles distant. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 103 miles distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lois Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Lake County cover white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike and rainbow trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Lois Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 4°F and July at about 64°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Lois Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Nine A M Lake, 0.5 miles out. Where Lois Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.