Upper Rattling Springs Lake, Minnesota: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Upper Rattling Springs Lake is listed under Dakota County, Minnesota. It sits at 663 feet above sea level. It measures about 27 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline comes to about 0.8 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Prescott sits 8.6 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 28 miles to Saint Paul, the nearest city. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Upper Rattling Springs Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. 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. Survey and observation records for Dakota County include bluegill, common carp and green sunfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Upper Rattling Springs Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 72°F; by January the average is down near 13°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Ice usually gives way near early April, and forms again about early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Upper Rattling Springs Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Lower Rattling Springs Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Upper Rattling Springs Lake before loading the car.