Fishing Wonder Lake in Cook County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Wonder Lake in the Cook County part of Minnesota. Elevation runs to 1,804 feet. With some 79 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The whole outline is near 2.1 miles, and most of it is walkable. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Minnesota listings. Grand Marais sits 28 miles from the bank. Silver Bay follows at 41 miles, then Ely at 44 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Wonder Lake

  Measured depth reaches about 11 feet at the deepest point. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Cook County cover white sucker, yellow perch, northern pike and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Wonder Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 64°F and January near 4°F on the long-run figures. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Wonder Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Sunhigh Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Wonder Lake in what we hold.