Ole Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Ole Lake belongs to Saint Louis County, Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,473 feet. Roughly 54 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The bank runs about 1.5 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Ely at 8.9 miles is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Thunder Bay is 131 miles off. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Ole Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker, rainbow trout and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. The near bank of Ole Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 65°F and January at 2°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. On average, late April opens the water and mid November closes it again. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. At Ole Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Maxine Lake sits 0.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Ole Lake before loading the car.