Mazaska Lake in Rice County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Mazaska Lake, in Rice County. The ground round it is pine and birch. About 669 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. With 4.9 miles or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Some 7.6 miles away sits Lonsdale, the nearest settlement. Faribault is 8.3 miles and Montgomery 10 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Mazaska Lake

  Published depth figures reach 57 feet at the lowest point. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Species logged across Rice County include common carp, bluegill and largemouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Mazaska Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 71°F in July and bottom out at 12°F in January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Mazaska Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Mud Lake at 1.4 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Mazaska Lake is worth confirming on the day.