Sunfish Lake Fishing Guide, Dakota County, Minnesota

• Overview

  This water sits in Dakota County, Minnesota. The water sits 935 feet up. It runs to roughly 48 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. There is roughly 1.3 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It lies lower than most water we list in Minnesota. Some 2.1 miles away sits Mendota Heights, the nearest settlement. West Saint Paul is 2.8 miles and South Saint Paul 3.3 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Sunfish Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Dakota County cover bluegill, common carp, green sunfish and black crappie. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Sunfish Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 73°F at the top of summer and 13°F at the bottom of winter. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Sunfish Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Horseshoe Lake, 1 mile out. Confirm before you fish Sunfish Lake.