Ballantyne Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Ballantyne Lake in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. The ground round it is mixed forest. This is sizeable water at about 354 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. The shoreline runs about 3.2 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Start from Madison Lake, 1.1 miles down the road. The nearest city of size is Minneapolis, 60 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Ballantyne Lake

  Recorded soundings reach about 63 feet at the deepest point. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Blue Earth County list common carp, bluegill, yellow perch, black bullhead and black crappie. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The shape of Ballantyne Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 72°F, with January the cold end at about 12°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Ballantyne Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Mud Lake at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. Rules at Ballantyne Lake are worth checking on the day.