Berendsen Lake Fishing Guide, Forest County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Forest County, Wisconsin, is where Berendsen Lake sits. Elevation runs to 1,542 feet. About 22 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The closest town, Nashville, is 7.9 miles distant. Crandon is 11 miles and Antigo 21 miles. Also worth knowing: Lake Agnes 0.2 miles away, Rolling Stone Lake (1.2 miles), Hollister Lake 1.8 miles away, Deadman Lake (2.3 miles) and Tekakwitha Lake 2.4 miles away. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Berendsen 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. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Forest County records list brown trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch and northern pike among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Berendsen Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 66°F and January about 10°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It sets the rhythm of the year at Berendsen Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Lake Agnes, 0.2 miles out. For Berendsen Lake in particular, ask before you travel.