Fishing at Bean Lake, Jefferson County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Bean Lake sits in Jefferson County, out in Wisconsin. It sits at 827 feet above sea level. The water covers some 32 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. It lies lower than most water we list in Wisconsin. Lake Mills sits 2.3 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The big place round here is Madison, 23 miles distant. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Bean Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Open biodiversity records for Jefferson County list common carp, bluegill, green sunfish, walleye and black crappie. The county list is broader than any single water. On Bean Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 17°F to 72°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early April. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan any trip to Bean Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. The nearest recorded ramp is Elm Point Landing, 0.9 miles out. The water borders Bean Lake State Natural Area, so expect the reserve rules to apply. A wire trace and a big bright lure handle the pike; deep water asks for a heavier spoon. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Mud Lake is 1.4 miles distant. Nothing on Bean Lake should be assumed from this page alone.