Carter Slough, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Wisconsin, Carter Slough belongs to Pierce County. Height above sea level is 679 feet. Surface area runs to about 6 acres — small enough to read in one session. Most waters listed here for Pierce County are larger. The nearest town is Prescott, 3.7 miles away. The big place round here is Saint Paul, 24 miles distant. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Carter Slough

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Pierce County records list common carp, brown trout and rainbow trout among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Carter Slough the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 13°F in January to roughly 72°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Climate figures give an open season running early April to early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Carter Slough follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. The water borders Gores Pool #3 Wildlife Management Area, so reserve rules are likely to apply. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Mud Hen Lake is 0.8 miles off. What applies at Carter Slough may have changed since it was mapped.