Long Island Lake Fishing Guide, Cook County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Long Island Lake is a Cook County water, Minnesota side. The water sits 1,759 feet up. This is sizeable water at about 896 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. On our Cook County list it sits near the top for size. Start from Grand Marais, 27 miles down the road. Thunder Bay is the closest city, 74 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Long Island Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Public occurrence data for Cook County names white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Long Island Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 64°F; the cold one sits at 4°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near mid November in autumn. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Long Island Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. There are toilets half a mile off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Ferret Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Long Island Lake before loading the car.