Pinch Lake in Lake County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Pinch Lake is listed under Lake County, Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,870 feet. This is a pocket water of some 9 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Lake County standards. The closest town, Grand Marais, is 32 miles away. Ely is 41 miles away, with Silver Bay at 46 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Pinch Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Lake County include white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The near bank of Pinch Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 64°F, the coldest about 4°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. At Pinch Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Romp Lake, 1 mile away. Nothing on Pinch Lake should be assumed from this page alone.