Dutton Slough Fishing near Sherburn, Minnesota

• Overview

  Dutton Slough is a Martin County water, in Minnesota. Height above sea level is 1,240 feet. Roughly 37 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Most waters listed here for Martin County are larger. The closest town, Sherburn, is 10 miles away. Fairmont follows at 13 miles, then Estherville at 13 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Dutton Slough

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Martin County: common carp, yellow perch, black bullhead, black crappie and walleye. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Work Dutton Slough in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 72°F, while January sits near 13°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Expect Dutton Slough to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. The water borders Ceylon Wildlife Management Area, so expect the reserve rules to apply. For walleye, a jig and minnow near the bottom is the standard; evenings beat middays. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Clear Lake is 0.6 miles off. Check the position on Dutton Slough before loading the car.