Fishing at Balsam Lake, Marinette County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Balsam Lake lies in Marinette County, in Wisconsin. It lies 997 feet above sea level. It covers about 9 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Nearest town is Gillett, 32 miles off. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 59 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter. It sits far enough from the road to feel away from things.

• Where to Fish on Balsam Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Records held for Marinette County cover brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass and bluegill. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Work Balsam Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 12°F and July at about 67°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan around that when you fish Balsam Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Boat Landing 10 gives a made launch, half a mile off. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Huber Lake at 1.1 miles is the sensible second choice. What applies at Balsam Lake may have changed since it was mapped.