Fishing Wagon Wheel Lake in Saint Louis County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Wagon Wheel Lake in the Saint Louis County part of Minnesota. It sits in pine and birch country. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Saint Louis County are larger. Mountain Iron at 8.1 miles is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 163 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Wagon Wheel Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Saint Louis County include yellow perch, northern pike, white sucker and rainbow trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Wagon Wheel Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 66°F and January near 4°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. At Wagon Wheel Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Spring Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Wagon Wheel Lake.