Fishing Target Lake in La Crosse County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Wisconsin holds Target Lake, in La Crosse County. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. About 620 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. By size it stands out even at Wisconsin level. For a base, La Crosse sits 2.1 miles out. La Crescent lies 2.5 miles off, North La Crosse another 3.8 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Target Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across La Crosse County include common carp, brown trout, bluegill and northern pike. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The near bank of Target Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 73°F, with January the cold end at about 15°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early April. The season between ice runs from about early April to early December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. That shapes the year on Target Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Blue Lake is 1.6 miles distant. Check the position on Target Lake before loading the car.