Fisher Lake in Scott County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Scott County entry here is Fisher Lake, in Minnesota. The water sits 679 feet up. At 260 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. Shoreline comes to about 2.5 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Size puts it in the front rank of our Scott County list. The nearest town is Savage, 3.9 miles away. The big place round here is Minneapolis, 14 miles distant. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Fisher Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Scott County include bluegill, largemouth bass and black crappie. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fisher Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 12°F in January and 73°F in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. Ice usually gives way near early April, and forms again about early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. At Fisher Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. This sits inside Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, so read the reserve notices first. Look for a notice board at the entrance. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Rice Lake, 1.2 miles away. Signs at Fisher Lake carry more weight than any list.