Bahlert Lake Fishing near Oconto Falls, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Out in Oconto County, Wisconsin, sits Bahlert Lake. The bank gives way to mixed forest. Small at around 8 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It lies lower than most water we list in Wisconsin. The closest town, Oconto Falls, is 19 miles distant. Gillett is 19 miles and Peshtigo 21 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Bahlert Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Open biodiversity records for Oconto County list brown trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Take Bahlert Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 69°F, the coldest about 13°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. At Bahlert Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Newbar Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Bahlert Lake.