Horseshoe Lake in Blue Earth County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Horseshoe Lake sits within Blue Earth County in Minnesota. It stands 794 feet above sea level. It covers about 11 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. On size it sits at the modest end of our Blue Earth County list. Start from Nicollet, 5.4 miles down the road. After that come Lake Crystal at 8 miles and North Mankato at 12 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Horseshoe Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Blue Earth County: common carp, bluegill, yellow perch and black bullhead. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Horseshoe Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 72°F and January about 12°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near early December in autumn. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. The season on Horseshoe Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Horseshoe Lake sits 1.9 miles off and takes the overflow. For Horseshoe Lake in particular, ask before you travel.