Pan Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Pan Lake sits in Lake County, out in Minnesota. Land around it is rolling bush. At about 94 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The edge runs 1.5 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Minnesota listings. The town to know is Ely, 37 miles out. Further out sit Grand Marais (38 miles) and Babbitt (45 miles). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Pan Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The near bank of Pan Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 64°F; by January the average is down near 5°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. On average, late April opens the water and mid November closes it again. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Pan Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Kivandeba Lake is 0.5 miles off. Rules at Pan Lake are worth checking on the day.