Chelstrom Lake Fishing in Polk County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Set in Polk County, Wisconsin, this is Chelstrom Lake. Elevation runs to 1,135 feet. Around 48 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. There is roughly 1.1 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Some 6.4 miles away sits Turtle Lake, the nearest settlement. Further out sit Amery (8.6 miles) and Clear Lake (11 miles). Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Chelstrom Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Open biodiversity records for Polk County list brown trout, rainbow trout, northern pike and largemouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Anyone new to Chelstrom Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 70°F; the cold one sits at 10°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. Open water usually runs from early April until about late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Chelstrom Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Deedon Lake sits 0.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Chelstrom Lake if anything is unclear.