Shields Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Shields Lake lies in Rice County, in Minnesota. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. The water covers around 933 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. At about 6.6 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Size puts it in the front rank of our Rice County list. Nearest town is Lonsdale, 7.6 miles off. Montgomery follows at 8.4 miles, then Faribault at 10 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Shields Lake

  Recorded soundings reach about 35 feet at the deepest point. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Rice County include common carp, bluegill, largemouth bass, black bullhead and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. On Shields Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 71°F and January near 11°F on the long-run figures. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Look for the thaw near early April; the fishing lifts straight after. The water is typically free of ice between early April and late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Shields Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A made slipway is half a mile from here, which settles the boat question. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Mud Lake, 1.1 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing on Shields Lake should be assumed from this page alone.