Fishing Circle Lake in Rice County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Circle Lake, in Rice County. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. The water covers around 924 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Around 8.7 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. Across our Minnesota listings, few waters are bigger. Lonsdale lies 6.2 miles from the water. Further out sit Dundas (7.2 miles) and Faribault (8.9 miles). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Circle Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Rice County records list common carp, bluegill, largemouth bass and black bullhead among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Read Circle Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 71°F, while January sits near 12°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Anyone fishing Circle Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Fox Lake sits 1.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Circle Lake as something to verify.