Fishing Turtle Lake in Washington County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Minnesota holds Turtle Lake, in Washington County. The country here is rolling bush. It runs to roughly 55 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Ground here is low by Minnesota standards. The nearest place of any size is Scandia, 6 miles away. Beyond it, Hugo at 6.3 miles and Grant at 6.8 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Turtle Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Washington County cover bluegill, largemouth bass and brown trout. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Read Turtle Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 71°F, while January sits near 11°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Turtle Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Mud Lake, 0.4 miles out. Where Turtle Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.