Square Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Square Lake sits in Washington County, out in Minnesota. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. At about 201 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The whole outline is near 2.3 miles, and most of it is walkable. It ranks high for size among our Washington County listings. The nearest town is Scandia, 6.7 miles away. It is 21 miles to Saint Paul, the nearest city. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Square Lake

  Survey data gives a maximum of roughly 76 feet. 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. Reported across Washington County: bluegill, largemouth bass and brown trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Square Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 72°F at the top of summer and 12°F at the bottom of winter. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. The season between ice runs from about early April to early December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Anyone fishing Square Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Clear Lake is 1.1 miles off. Check the position at Square Lake before loading the car.