Peter Lake near Medina: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Peter Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The setting is mixed forest on every side. The water covers some 55 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 1.4 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Ground here is low by Minnesota standards. Medina lies 2 miles from the water. Minneapolis sits 17 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Peter Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name bluegill, common carp, largemouth bass and pumpkinseed. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Peter Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 71°F and January about 11°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Average temperatures cross freezing around early April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Peter Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Thomas Lake is 0.9 miles off. For Peter Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.