Tooth Lake Fishing in Saint Louis County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Tooth Lake falls inside Saint Louis County. The bank is 1,178 feet above sea level. It measures about 59 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. About 1.8 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. The closest town, Fort Frances, is 38 miles distant. After that come International Falls at 38 miles and Ely at 49 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Tooth Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Across Saint Louis County, recorded fish include yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker and rainbow trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The shape of Tooth Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 66°F, with January the cold end at about 4°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on Tooth Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Spring Lake, 2 miles away. Confirm before you fish Tooth Lake.