Simian Lake Fishing near Cloquet, Minnesota

• Overview

  Simian Lake is one of the Saint Louis County waters in Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,247 feet. The water covers some 79 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 1.3 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Cloquet lies 5.5 miles from the water. Esko is 9.5 miles and Carlton 9.8 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Simian Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Saint Louis County list yellow perch, northern pike and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Simian Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 66°F; by January the average is down near 7°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly late November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Simian Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Twin Lakes at 2.7 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Simian Lake is worth confirming on the day.