Pit Lake Fishing in Saint Louis County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Out in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, sits Pit Lake. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. This is a pocket water of some 13 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Saint Louis County standards. The town to know is Arnold, 21 miles out. Then Two Harbors, 23 miles, and Hoyt Lakes, 24 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Pit Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Saint Louis County records list yellow perch, northern pike and white sucker among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Anyone new to Pit Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 5°F at the bottom of winter. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Climate figures give an open season running late April to late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Pit Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Hulligan Lake is 0.7 miles distant. Check the position on Pit Lake before loading the car.