Fishing at O'Leary Lake, Dakota County, Minnesota

• Overview

  O'Leary Lake is a Dakota County water, in Minnesota. The country round it is mixed forest from end to end. At 9 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Dakota County list holds plenty of bigger water. For a base, Eagan sits 1.8 miles out. Saint Paul is the closest city, 8.7 miles away. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on O'Leary Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Dakota County cover bluegill, common carp, green sunfish and black crappie. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. O'Leary Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 72°F at the top of summer and 12°F at the bottom of winter. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan any trip to O'Leary Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. A made slipway is half a mile from here, which settles the boat question. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. Mapping shows a jetty some half a mile off. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Hurley Lake at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at O'Leary Lake before loading the car.