Big Slough near Slayton: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Big Slough, in Murray County. The surface lies 1,526 feet up. This is sizeable water at about 344 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Murray County. The closest town, Slayton, is 2.2 miles distant. Fulda follows at 9 miles, then Tracy at 19 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Big Slough

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Murray County, recorded fish include common carp, walleye, black bullhead, yellow perch and black crappie. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Big Slough gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 71°F, the coldest about 12°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. From about early April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Big Slough.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Public mapping marks it as seasonal water rather than permanent. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. For walleye, a jig and minnow near the bottom is the standard; evenings beat middays. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, North Badger Lake is 2.6 miles off. For Big Slough in particular, ask before you travel.