Rat Lake Fishing near Chisholm, Minnesota

• Overview

  Saint Louis County, Minnesota, is where Rat Lake sits. It sits in pine and birch country. Around 70 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. With about 1.4 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Nearest town is Chisholm, 7.3 miles off. The nearest city of size is Minneapolis, 178 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Rat Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Open biodiversity records for Saint Louis County list yellow perch, northern pike and white sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Treat Rat Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 5°F and July at about 66°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. From about late April to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Rat Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Loven Lake, 0.6 miles away. Ask locally about Rat Lake if anything is unclear.