Clay Lake in Bayfield County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Bayfield County in Wisconsin is where Clay Lake sits. This is pine and birch country. Surface area is around 28 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The nearest town is Lake Nebagamon, 22 miles away. The nearest city of size is Saint Paul, 134 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Clay Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Bayfield County: rainbow smelt, brown trout, yellow perch, rainbow trout and white sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. Anyone new to Clay Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 9°F in January and 66°F in July. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. The season on Clay Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Flakefjord Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Clay Lake should be assumed from this page alone.