Fishing Mirth Lake in Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Mirth Lake lies in Lake County, Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,709 feet. Small at around 6 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Lake County. The nearest town is Grand Marais, 34 miles away. Then Ely, 39 miles, and Silver Bay, 44 miles. Also within reach: Wapata Lake out at 1.6 miles, Whopper Lake at about 1.7 miles, Grunt Lake out at 1.9 miles, Snort Lake at about 2 miles and Stew Lake out at 2.2 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Mirth Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Lake County: white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike and rainbow trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Treat Mirth Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 64°F; by January the average is down near 5°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The water is typically free of ice between late April and mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Expect Mirth Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. 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. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Wapata Lake is 1.6 miles off. None of that is settled for Mirth Lake in what we hold.