Fishing Benton Lake in Carver County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Benton Lake sits in Carver County, out in Minnesota. The country here is rolling bush. Surface area is around 50 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Around 1.1 miles of margin, front to back. Ground here is low by Minnesota standards. Cologne sits 0.2 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Then Waconia, 5.3 miles, and Young America (historical), 6.3 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Benton Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Carver County list bluegill, largemouth bass, common carp and black crappie. The county list is broader than any single water. At Benton Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 11°F in January and 72°F in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On average, early April opens the water and late November closes it again. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. On Benton Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Meuwissen Lake, 0.6 miles out. Rules at Benton Lake are worth checking on the day.