Mina Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Lake County, Minnesota. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. It measures about 27 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. About 1.2 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Compared with other Minnesota water on our list, it sits high. Nearest place of any size is Grand Marais, 35 miles away. It is 84 miles to Thunder Bay, the nearest city. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Mina Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Lake County cover white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Mina Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 4°F to 64°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. At Mina Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Bonita Lake is 0.5 miles off. Rules at Mina Lake are worth checking on the day.