Fishing at Buffalo Lake, Murray County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Buffalo Lake sits within Murray County in Minnesota. The ground around here is lake country bush. Surface area is around 123 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Roughly 1.6 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Some 11 miles away sits Slayton, the nearest settlement. Sioux Falls is the closest city, 68 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Buffalo Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name common carp, walleye, black bullhead and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Buffalo Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 71°F and January near 12°F on the long-run figures. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Buffalo Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Slaughter Slough sits 2.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Buffalo Lake carry more weight than any list.