Blue Lake near La Crescent: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Houston County entry here is Blue Lake, in Minnesota. The ground around here is mixed forest. At 510 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. It is the biggest water on our Houston County list. La Crescent is the closest town at 1 mile. La Crosse is 2.8 miles and North La Crosse 2.9 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Blue Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Houston County include common carp, brown trout and rainbow trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Blue Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 15°F and July at about 73°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Ice clears near early April and comes back about early December in a typical year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Blue Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Target Lake sits 1.6 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Blue Lake is worth confirming on the day.