Mistletoe Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Mistletoe Lake belongs to Cook County. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. At about 146 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Size puts it in the front rank of our Cook County list. Grand Marais sits 17 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Silver Bay is 42 miles away, with Ely at 55 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Mistletoe Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Cook County include white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Fish Mistletoe Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 63°F, with January the cold end at about 6°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The water is typically free of ice between late April and late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. The season on Mistletoe Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Launching is possible: a slipway lies 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. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Holly Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Mistletoe Lake should be assumed from this page alone.