Beaver Lake Fishing near Hartland, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Beaver Lake falls in Waukesha County, part of Wisconsin. This is mixed forest country. The water covers around 321 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The perimeter runs near 3.3 miles, so plan the walk before you start. On our Waukesha County list it sits near the top for size. Supplies mean a trip to Hartland, 1.9 miles off. Milwaukee is the closest city, 24 miles away. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Beaver Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Waukesha County, recorded fish include common carp, bluegill, brown trout, rainbow trout and rock bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At Beaver Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 17°F to 71°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early April. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near mid December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Beaver Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Cornell Lake at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat Beaver Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.