Fishing at Barnes Lake, Marinette County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Barnes Lake sits within Marinette County in Wisconsin. It stands 1,030 feet above sea level. It measures about 28 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Nearest place of any size is Niagara, 13 miles away. Further out sit Kingsford (13 miles) and Quinnesec (15 miles). No border sits close enough to matter. Yearly totals run near 30 inches, with February the driest stretch.

• Where to Fish on Barnes 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. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. County-wide records name brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Barnes Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 12°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It holds true on Barnes Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. For a change of water, West Pickerel Pond is 0.6 miles distant. Confirm access to Barnes Lake locally before you travel.