Nickel Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Itasca County in Minnesota is where Nickel Lake sits. Height above sea level is 1,385 feet. At 13 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Itasca County list holds plenty of bigger water. 22 miles away sits Coleraine, the nearest town. Keewatin is 23 miles away, with Cohasset at 25 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Nickel Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. 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. County-wide records name yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. At Nickel Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 4°F in January and 66°F in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on Nickel Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Whiskey Lake, 0.7 miles out. Nothing on Nickel Lake should be assumed from this page alone.