Ptarmigan Lake in Cook County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Ptarmigan Lake lies in Cook County, in Minnesota. What surrounds it is rolling bush. Small at around 11 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Cook County. Some 13 miles away sits Grand Marais, the nearest settlement. Thunder Bay sits 65 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Ptarmigan Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Read Ptarmigan Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 5°F and July at about 63°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Open water usually runs from late April until about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. At Ptarmigan Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Ball Club Lake is 0.9 miles distant. Treat Ptarmigan Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.