Fishing Briard Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  This water sits in Oneida County, Wisconsin. The land about it is lake country bush. This is a pocket water of some 21 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It sits higher than most water we list in Wisconsin. Eagle River lies 6.6 miles from the water. Further out sit Rhinelander (18 miles) and Crandon (22 miles). A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Briard Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name brown trout, walleye, largemouth bass and northern pike. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Briard Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 10°F at the bottom of winter. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan around that when you fish Briard Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping puts a reserve boundary across this water; check what it allows. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For a change of water, Range Line Lake is 0.9 miles distant. Treat access at Briard Lake as something to verify.