Morris Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Morris Lake in Lake County, Minnesota. It sits at 1,440 feet above sea level. With some 60 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 1.8 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. 40 miles away sits Grand Marais, the nearest town. Further out sit Ely (51 miles) and Atikokan (52 miles). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Morris Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Lake County list white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike and rainbow trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Fish Morris Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 5°F in January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. On Morris Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Reward Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Confirm access to Morris Lake locally before you travel.