Fishing at Simley Lake, Dakota County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Simley Lake lies in Dakota County, Minnesota. Height above sea level is 876 feet. At roughly 11 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Dakota County. Nearest place of any size is Inver Grove Heights, 1.1 miles away. Saint Paul Park is 2.5 miles and Newport 3.1 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Simley Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Dakota County: bluegill, common carp and green sunfish. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Fish Simley Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 13°F in January and 72°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly early December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan around that when you fish Simley Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. A toilet block sits half a mile away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Marcott Lakes at 1.8 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Simley Lake.