Ann Lake Fishing in Burnett County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Ann Lake is set in Burnett County, Wisconsin. Elevation runs to 965 feet. The water covers some 28 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Supplies mean a trip to Spooner, 19 miles off. It is 78 miles to Saint Paul, the nearest city. Within a short run: Tomoe Lake sits 0.2 miles out, 0.7 miles away is Lily Lake, Peterson Lake sits 0.7 miles out, 0.8 miles away is Kiezer Lake and Benach Lake sits 1.3 miles out. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Ann Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Burnett County include brown trout, northern pike and largemouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Ann Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 69°F; the cold one sits at 10°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Ann Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Tomoe Lake, 0.2 miles away. For Ann Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.