Struggle Lake Fishing in Lake County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Struggle Lake lies in Lake County, Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,568 feet. It runs to roughly 31 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. It sits higher than most water we list in Minnesota. Start from Ely, 30 miles down the road. After that come Babbitt at 37 miles and Grand Marais at 44 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Struggle Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Lake County cover white sucker, yellow perch and northern pike. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Struggle Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 64°F on average, January about 4°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Struggle Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Turkey Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Struggle Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.