Fishing at Sova Lake, Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Sova Lake sits within Lake County in Minnesota. It stands 1,644 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 10 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is a small entry by Lake County standards. Grand Marais is the closest place, 36 miles off. Ely follows at 39 miles, then Babbitt at 46 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Sova Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Sova Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 64°F; the cold one sits at 5°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The season between ice runs from about late April to mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Sova Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Kickshaw Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Signs at Sova Lake carry more weight than any list.