Fishing at Perdu Lake, Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Set in Lake County, Minnesota, this is Perdu Lake. Land around it is pine and birch. Small at around 7 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Our Lake County list holds plenty of bigger water. Ely lies 24 miles from the water. For a city, Thunder Bay is 101 miles off. Within a short run: Spigot Lake after 0.6 miles, Splash Lake some 1.1 miles off, Birch Lake after 1.1 miles, Sucker Lake some 1.4 miles off and Trident Lake after 1.8 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Perdu Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Lake County include white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Read Perdu Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 4°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It holds true on Perdu Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. There are toilets half a mile off. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Spigot Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Perdu Lake are worth checking on the day.