Fishing Nelson Lake in Goodhue County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Nelson Lake stands in Goodhue County, Minnesota. It lies 656 feet above sea level. At about 51 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Around 1.3 miles of margin, front to back. Red Wing is the closest place, 8.3 miles off. For a city, Saint Paul is 30 miles off. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Nelson Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Species logged across Goodhue County include common carp, brown trout, rainbow trout and white bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Treat Nelson Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 72°F, the coldest about 13°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Break-up sits around early April on average, with the water closing again about early December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan any trip to Nelson Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Brunner Lake, 0.9 miles out. Treat Nelson Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.