Fishing Armstrong Lake in Blue Earth County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Look for Armstrong Lake in the Blue Earth County part of Minnesota. The bank is 971 feet above sea level. The water covers some 116 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 1.6 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It lies lower than most water we list in Minnesota. 7.1 miles away sits Lake Crystal, the nearest town. Further out sit Madelia (8 miles) and Nicollet (11 miles). The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Armstrong Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Blue Earth County, recorded fish include common carp, bluegill and yellow perch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The shape of Armstrong Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 72°F on average, January about 13°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. The season on Armstrong Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Strom Lake sits 1 mile off and takes the overflow. For Armstrong Lake in particular, ask before you travel.