Fishing at Fish Lake, Vernon County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Set in Vernon County, Fish Lake is a Wisconsin water. Elevation runs to 614 feet. The town to know is Caledonia, 17 miles out. Viroqua is 18 miles and Waukon 19 miles. Also worth knowing: Commodore Lake near enough 2 miles, Goose Lake 2.4 miles, Hayshore Lake near enough 4 miles, Sidie Hollow Lake 15 miles and Target Lake near enough 22 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Fish Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name brown trout, common carp, rainbow trout and brook trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Fish Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 72°F for July and 16°F for January. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early April. Ice clears near early April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. That shapes the year on Fish Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. New Albin Landing sits about half a mile away and carries the launch. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Commodore Lake sits 2 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Fish Lake may have changed since it was mapped.