Schmidt Lake Fishing Guide, Dakota County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Schmidt Lake is a Dakota County water, Minnesota side. It lies 925 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 35 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Bank access stretches around 1.4 miles in total. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Minnesota listings. The closest town, Inver Grove Heights, is 2.2 miles away. Saint Paul is the closest city, 5 miles away. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Schmidt Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Open biodiversity records for Dakota County list bluegill, common carp, green sunfish and black crappie. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Schmidt Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 73°F and January about 13°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Schmidt Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. A toilet block sits half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Dickman Lake, 0.7 miles away. The position on Schmidt Lake is worth confirming on the day.