South Arm Knife Lake in Lake County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Minnesota, South Arm Knife Lake belongs to Lake County. The surroundings are lake country bush. Surface area runs to roughly 3.0 sq miles, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The bank runs about 68 miles in total, split between open shore and sheltered corners. Size puts it in the front rank of our Lake County list. Ely lies 36 miles from the water. Thunder Bay sits 89 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on South Arm Knife Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Lake County list white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On South Arm Knife Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 65°F; the cold one sits at 4°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It holds true on South Arm Knife Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Eddy Lake sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. For South Arm Knife Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.