Fishing Skidway Lake in Cook County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Skidway Lake lies in Cook County, in Minnesota. The setting is mixed forest. At 17 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Compared with other Minnesota water on our list, it sits high. Grand Marais lies 15 miles from the water. After that come Neebing at 52 miles and Silver Bay at 57 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Skidway Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Cook County records list white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Read Skidway 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. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Skidway Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. 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. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Dugout Lake, 0.5 miles out. For Skidway Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.