Lake Emily Fishing near Saint Peter, Minnesota

• Overview

  Nicollet County, Minnesota, is where Lake Emily sits. Beyond the shoreline you have mixed forest. Roughly 246 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Shoreline length is close to 3.8 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. It lies lower than most water we list in Minnesota. 2.2 miles away sits Saint Peter, the nearest town. Madison Lake is 8.9 miles away, with Eagle Lake at 10 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Emily

  Sounding records show water to about 42 feet. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name rainbow trout, common carp, bluegill, brown trout and yellow perch. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Lake Emily a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 12°F to 72°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near early December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Lake Emily runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Lake Emily is 2.5 miles off. Check the position at Lake Emily before loading the car.