Big Doctor Lake near Frederic: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In Wisconsin, Big Doctor Lake falls inside Burnett County. It sits in pine and birch country. It measures about 213 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The full circuit measures close to 2.3 miles on foot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Burnett County list. Supplies mean a trip to Frederic, 9.9 miles off. Further out sit Grantsburg (14 miles) and Luck (16 miles). It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Big Doctor Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Fish documented in Burnett County include brown trout, northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill and pumpkinseed. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Treat Big Doctor Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 69°F in July and bottoms out near 10°F in January. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan any trip to Big Doctor Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Doctor Lake, 1 mile away. Check the current arrangement for Big Doctor Lake.