Fishing 5.1 Reservoir in Buffalo County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  In Wisconsin, 5.1 Reservoir belongs to Buffalo County. The ground around here is rolling bush. Surface area runs to about 12 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by Buffalo County standards. Wabasha at 13 miles is the nearest place to stop. Goodview follows at 15 miles, then Arcadia at 16 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on 5.1 Reservoir

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Records held for Buffalo County cover brown trout, rainbow trout and common carp. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. This water gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 13°F to 71°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Ice clears near early April and comes back about early December in a typical year. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Anyone fishing this water regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Lizzy Pauls Pond at 2.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish this water.