Victoria Lake Fishing near Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

• Overview

  Victoria Lake sits within Hennepin County in Minnesota. It sits in rolling bush country. At roughly 9 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Hennepin County standards. Some 1.9 miles away sits Saint Louis Park, the nearest settlement. For a city, Minneapolis is 6.2 miles off. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Victoria Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Hennepin County, recorded fish include bluegill, common carp, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and black crappie. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Read Victoria Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 73°F and January about 12°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice usually gives way near early April, and forms again about early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on Victoria Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. A rest area sits about 170 yards from the water. Facilities include toilets around 160 yards from here. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Windsor Lake is 1.4 miles distant. Treat access at Victoria Lake as something to verify.