Staples Lake Fishing Guide, Washington County, Minnesota

• Overview

  The Washington County end of Minnesota holds Staples Lake. Height above sea level is 942 feet. It is low-lying compared with other Minnesota water we list. The nearest town is Scandia, 5.4 miles away. Further out sit Hugo (7 miles) and Grant (7.3 miles). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications. One side gets the morning sun and the other the evening.

• Where to Fish on Staples Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Fish documented in Washington County include bluegill, largemouth bass and brown trout. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Staples Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 71°F and January about 11°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. The lid tends to go about early April and return around late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Staples Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Turtle Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Staples Lake before loading the car.