Rutz Lake Fishing Guide, Carver County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Rutz Lake is a Carver County water, in Minnesota. The surface lies 955 feet up. The water covers some 54 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Roughly 1.1 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Ground here is low by Minnesota standards. Mayer sits 1.7 miles from here and is the nearest stop. After that come Waconia at 3.8 miles and Saint Bonifacius at 6 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Rutz Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Carver County include bluegill, largemouth bass, common carp and black crappie. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The near bank of Rutz Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 11°F in January to roughly 72°F in July. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Ice usually gives way near early April, and forms again about late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Rutz Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Swan Lake at 1.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Rutz Lake are worth checking on the day.