Fishing Sale Lake in Saint Louis County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Sale Lake lies in Saint Louis County, in Minnesota. The water sits 1,572 feet up. At about 135 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. With about 1.9 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It is high ground by Minnesota standards. Start from Hoyt Lakes, 19 miles down the road. Beyond it, Two Harbors at 23 miles and Aurora at 24 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Sale Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Saint Louis County include yellow perch, northern pike and white sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. Work Sale Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 64°F, with January the cold end at about 4°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. The lid tends to go about late April and return around late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Plan any trip to Sale Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Kylen Lake, 0.6 miles out. For Sale Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.