Spinnan Lake near Ely: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Spinnan in Lake County. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to about 19 acres — small enough to read in one session. Ely sits 19 miles from the bank. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 108 miles away. Within easy reach: Holiday Lake just 0.4 miles, Janis Lake within 1 mile, Kayoskh Lake just 1.3 miles, Rock of Ages Lake within 1.3 miles and Rock Island Lake just 1.3 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Spinnan Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Lake County records list white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike and rainbow trout among the fish reported. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Anyone new to Spinnan Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 4°F to 65°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Averages place the thaw at late April and the freeze at late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. At Spinnan Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Should this one be busy, Holiday Lake is 0.4 miles off. Signs at Spinnan Lake carry more weight than any list.