West Pope Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Cook County, West Pope Lake is a Minnesota water. The water sits 1,870 feet up. With some 88 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 2.9 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Compared with other Minnesota water on our list, it sits high. Nearest town is Grand Marais, 25 miles off. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 66 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on West Pope Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Cook County include white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike, rainbow trout and walleye. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The shape of West Pope Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 63°F at the top of summer and 4°F at the bottom of winter. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. At West Pope Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Iron Lake is 0.4 miles off. Check the position on West Pope Lake before loading the car.