Fishing at North Temperance Lake, Cook County, Minnesota

• Overview

  North Temperance Lake falls in Cook County, part of Minnesota. The ground around here is mixed forest. Around 186 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. You are looking at roughly 3.7 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. Size puts it in the front rank of our Cook County list. The town to know is Grand Marais, 25 miles out. Silver Bay lies 50 miles off, Ely another 51 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on North Temperance Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Cook County include white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On North Temperance Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 5°F in January to roughly 63°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. On North Temperance Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A camping area sits within 130 yards of here. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Tiny Lake, 0.9 miles away. For North Temperance Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.