Bean Lake Fishing in Washburn County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  The Washburn County end of Wisconsin holds Bean Lake. The ground round it is pine and birch. At about 99 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The edge runs 1.8 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Supplies mean a trip to Hayward, 6.6 miles off. Little Round Lake follows at 10 miles, then Spooner at 17 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Bean Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Washburn County, recorded fish include largemouth bass, bluegill and northern pike. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Take Bean Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 68°F and January at 9°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. It holds true on Bean Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Beaver Lake sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Bean Lake are worth checking on the day.