McCarthy Lake Fishing in Dakota County, Minnesota

• Overview

  McCarthy Lake is a Dakota County water, Minnesota side. Elevation runs to 823 feet. This is a pocket water of some 13 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Dakota County standards. The closest town, Eagan, is 0.9 miles away. Further out sit Mendota Heights (5 miles) and Rosemount (5.2 miles). Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on McCarthy Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Dakota County include bluegill, common carp and green sunfish. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Take McCarthy Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 72°F and January near 12°F on the long-run figures. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at early December. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. The season on McCarthy Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. There is a jetty 0.9 miles off, worth knowing on a busy day. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Hurley Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at McCarthy Lake may have changed since it was mapped.