Kelly Lake Fishing near Jordan, Minnesota

• Overview

  Within Scott County, Minnesota, you have Kelly Lake. The water sits 705 feet up. The water covers some 33 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. About 1.3 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Ground here is low by Minnesota standards. For a base, Jordan sits 3.9 miles out. Minneapolis is the closest city, 30 miles away. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Kelly Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Scott County cover bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie and pumpkinseed. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Read Kelly Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 11°F in January up to 72°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Kelly Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Scott Lake, 1.1 miles away. What applies at Kelly Lake may have changed since it was mapped.