Temperance River Lake in Cook County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Temperance River Lake lies within the bounds of Cook County, Minnesota. The ground round it is lake country bush. With some 32 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Compared with other Minnesota water on our list, it sits high. The closest town, Grand Marais, is 23 miles distant. For a city, Thunder Bay is 81 miles off. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Temperance River Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Cook County list white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike and rainbow trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Take Temperance River Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 63°F and January at 6°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That shapes the year on Temperance River Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. 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. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Nelson Lake is 0.2 miles distant. Where Temperance River Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.