Fishing Sauna Lake in Saint Louis County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Sauna Lake falls in Saint Louis County, part of Minnesota. The surface lies 1,302 feet up. The water covers some 38 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Nearest place of any size is Ely, 18 miles away. For a city, Thunder Bay is 116 miles off. Near neighbours: Jackfish Lake out at 0.5 miles, Maingan Lake after 0.8 miles, Wabosons Lake out at 1.1 miles, Pakwene Lake after 1.2 miles and Circle Lake out at 1.4 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Sauna Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Saint Louis County: yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker, rainbow trout and walleye. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Sauna Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 65°F and January near 3°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan any trip to Sauna Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Tick Lake Primitive Management Area covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Jackfish Lake at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Sauna Lake is worth confirming on the day.