Nightingale Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Nightingale Lake is one of the Saint Louis County waters in Minnesota. It stands 1,404 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 24 acres — small enough to read in one session. The town to know is Ely, 14 miles out. Babbitt follows at 27 miles, then Hoyt Lakes at 42 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Nightingale Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Public occurrence data for Saint Louis County names yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker, rainbow trout and walleye. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Anyone new to Nightingale Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 3°F in January and 65°F in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Nightingale Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Angleworm Lake at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Nightingale Lake before loading the car.