Nighthawk Lake Fishing Guide, Cook County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Cook County in Minnesota is where Nighthawk Lake sits. Elevation runs to 1,837 feet. Surface area runs to about 19 acres — small enough to read in one session. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Minnesota listings. Grand Marais lies 19 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 61 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Nighthawk Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Cook County: white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Work Nighthawk Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 4°F to 63°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan around that when you fish Nighthawk Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Parking sits 0.9 miles out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. Facilities run to toilets 0.9 miles from the water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Fag Lake is 0.6 miles off. Treat access at Nighthawk Lake as something to verify.