Iron Lake Fishing in Murray County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Murray County entry here is Iron Lake, in Minnesota. The country round it is pine and birch from end to end. This is sizeable water at about 251 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. You are looking at roughly 3.4 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. It is high ground by Minnesota standards. For supplies, Tracy is 13 miles out. For a city, Sioux Falls is 61 miles off. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Iron Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Murray County include common carp, walleye and black bullhead. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Iron Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 12°F in January to roughly 71°F in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about late November in a typical year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Time your trip to Iron Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Iron Lake Wildlife Management Area covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Lake Maria, 3.4 miles away. Signs at Iron Lake carry more weight than any list.