Bobcat Lake Fishing near Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Bobcat Lake lies within the bounds of Oneida County, Wisconsin. It lies 1,581 feet above sea level. The water covers some 47 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The bank runs about 1.1 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Nearest place of any size is Lac du Flambeau, 11 miles away. Green Bay is the closest city, 125 miles away. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Bobcat Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name brown trout, walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Bobcat Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 66°F, with January the cold end at about 9°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Anyone fishing Bobcat Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The water borders Finnerud Pine Forest State Natural Area, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Blue Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Bobcat Lake for certain.