Meadow Lake in Hennepin County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Meadow Lake is a Hennepin County water, Minnesota side. It sits at 928 feet above sea level. At roughly 6 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Hennepin County standards. For supplies, Hanover is 2.9 miles out. Rogers is 3.1 miles and Saint Michael 3.5 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Meadow Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Records held for Hennepin County cover bluegill, common carp, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and black crappie. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The near bank of Meadow Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 72°F at the top of summer and 11°F at the bottom of winter. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. 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 late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. The season on Meadow Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Sylvan Lake, 1.2 miles away. For Meadow Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.