Fishing Middle Cone Lake in Cook County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Middle Cone Lake is a Cook County water, in Minnesota. It sits at 1,831 feet above sea level. It measures about 72 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 1.5 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Compared with other Minnesota water on our list, it sits high. 22 miles away sits Grand Marais, the nearest town. Further out sit Silver Bay (54 miles) and Ely (55 miles). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Middle Cone Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Cook County include white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The near bank of Middle Cone Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 63°F; by January the average is down near 5°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan around that when you fish Middle Cone Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. There are toilets half a mile off. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. South Cone Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat Middle Cone Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.