Nave Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Nave Lake lies within the bounds of Lake County, Minnesota. This is rolling bush country. Small at around 8 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Lake County standards. Ely lies 39 miles from the water. The big place round here is Thunder Bay, 86 miles distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Nave Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Lake County, recorded fish include white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Nave Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 4°F in January and 65°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. At Nave Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Nabek Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Nave Lake before loading the car.