Fishing at Lake Masterman, Washington County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Lake Masterman sits within Washington County in Minnesota. Height above sea level is 951 feet. It runs to roughly 38 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Shoreline comes to about 1.1 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Ground here is low by Minnesota standards. Grant sits 0.6 miles from the bank. The nearest city of size is Saint Paul, 13 miles away. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Lake Masterman

  We hold no depth figure for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Washington County: bluegill, largemouth bass and brown trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Lake Masterman responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 72°F, with January the cold end at about 12°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. On Lake Masterman the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For a change of water, Woodpile Lake is 0.7 miles distant. Treat access at Lake Masterman as something to verify.