Armstrong Lake Fishing in Washington County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Armstrong Lake in the Washington County part of Minnesota. It sits at 1,017 feet above sea level. It covers about 16 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Our Washington County list holds plenty of bigger water. Some 1.3 miles away sits Oakdale, the nearest settlement. After that come Woodbury at 2.9 miles and Maplewood at 2.9 miles. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Armstrong Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Washington County records list bluegill, largemouth bass and brown trout among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Armstrong Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 12°F in January and 72°F in July. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early April and starts locking again about early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Armstrong Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Goose Lake, 1.6 miles out. For Armstrong Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.