Quigley Lake in Dakota County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Dakota County in Minnesota is where Quigley Lake sits. It sits at 853 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 12 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. On size it sits at the modest end of our Dakota County list. Nearest town is Eagan, 0.6 miles off. The big place round here is Saint Paul, 11 miles distant. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Quigley Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. 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. On Quigley Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 72°F at the top of summer and 12°F at the bottom of winter. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at early December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan around that when you fish Quigley Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, McCarthy Lake is 0.7 miles distant. Check the position at Quigley Lake before loading the car.