Walnut Lake Fishing Guide, Faribault County, Minnesota

• Overview

  Out in Faribault County, Minnesota, sits Walnut Lake. The surface lies 1,112 feet up. It measures some 683 acres, and wind has room to build across it. Some 4.1 miles of bank gives room to move when the wind turns. 5.9 miles away sits Wells, the nearest town. Beyond it, Blue Earth at 15 miles and Mapleton at 19 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Walnut Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Species logged across Faribault County include common carp, yellow perch, black bullhead, black crappie and northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Walnut Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 72°F in July and bottoms out near 12°F in January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Climate figures give an open season running early April to early December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Walnut Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, South Walnut Lake is 0.9 miles distant. Treat access at Walnut Lake as something to verify.