Shanghai Lake Fishing Guide, Le Sueur County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Shanghai Lake belongs to Le Sueur County, Minnesota. It sits in mixed forest country. With some 26 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. It is a small entry by Le Sueur County standards. Nearest place of any size is Le Center, 3.1 miles away. Minneapolis sits 50 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Shanghai Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Le Sueur County include common carp, bluegill, largemouth bass and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. On Shanghai Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 71°F for July and 11°F for January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. The open-water window runs from around early April to about late November in an average year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. That is the shape of the year on Shanghai Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. This sits inside Shanghai Lake Wildlife Management Area, so read the reserve notices first. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Decker Lake at 2.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Shanghai Lake for certain.