Fishing Markley Lake in Scott County, Minnesota

• Overview

  You will find Markley Lake in Scott County, Minnesota. It sits at 906 feet above sea level. It covers about 16 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. On size it sits at the modest end of our Scott County list. Supplies mean a trip to Prior Lake, 1.2 miles off. Savage is 5.7 miles and Burnsville 7.2 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Markley Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Scott County include bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie and pumpkinseed. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Markley Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 72°F and January near 12°F on the long-run figures. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. The water is typically free of ice between early April and early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan around that when you fish Markley Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. 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. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Blind Lake at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. For Markley Lake in particular, ask before you travel.