Goose Lake Fishing near Caledonia, Minnesota

• Overview

  This water sits in Houston County, Minnesota. Height above sea level is 614 feet. At about 70 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. On size it sits at the modest end of our Houston County list. The nearest town is Caledonia, 15 miles away. For a city, Rochester is 70 miles off. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Goose Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. 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. Species logged across Houston County include common carp, brown trout, rainbow trout and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Goose Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 72°F, the coldest about 15°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. At Goose Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. The nearest alternative is Commodore Lake, 1.2 miles out. Check the position on Goose Lake before loading the car.