West Moccasin Lake in Lake County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  West Moccasin Lake is one of the Lake County waters in Minnesota. It stands 1,699 feet above sea level. Small at around 8 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Lake County. Babbitt is the closest place, 19 miles off. After that come Ely at 22 miles and Silver Bay at 29 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on West Moccasin Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Lake County records list white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike and rainbow trout among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. West Moccasin Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 64°F, with January the cold end at about 4°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. The lid tends to go about late April and return around late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan any trip to West Moccasin Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. East Moccasin Lake sits 0.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at West Moccasin Lake before loading the car.