SHOAL LAKE. The name says it all. The lake boasts 75,000 acres of clear water, countless rock shoals, many islands, great bottom structure and plentiful bait fish. It's easy to see why bass flourish here. What's more...ours is the only lodge on this large body of water, and we adhere to a strict catch-and-release policy on bass. In short, you can EXPECT to catch fish here.
Fishin' Line Magazine called Shoal Lake "the best fishing in the Northwest region", and the home to "schools of bass that have never seen a lure". Expect average catches of 30-50 fish per day with 100 fish days occurring when conditions are right.
In early Spring fish head for spawing sites as the water nears sixty degrees in the shallows. They spawn from fifty-seven to sixty-five degrees in under ten feet of water and are easily visible on the beds. In the middle of summer, fish are on rock piles, humps and points. As Fall approaches and the water reaches sixty degrees or lower, the bass begin to school up and go deeper. They do feed heavily before ice-up, and at this time, we see some of our fattest fish of the year.
In the clean clear water, we use lighter lines and sensitive equipment. All plastic baits work, including tubes, grubs, flukes and sluggos. Minnow baits are popular and nothing beats bass on topwater baits. Poppers and chugg baits work well. We have lure suggestion sheets for pike and bass that we give out to prepare all fishermen.
Our catch-and-release program is working to preserve the bass fishery for the future. You can expect super fishing now, and for years to come. So if you fish bass, give Shoal Lake Lodge a try, and you will have found your home away from home.
Go To Largemouth Bass Fishing Page
