Clear Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Clear Lake is one of the Forest County waters in Wisconsin. The surface lies 1,598 feet up. Roughly 73 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. About 1.4 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Crandon is the closest town at 0.7 miles. Nashville is 6.9 miles and Rhinelander 25 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Forest County, recorded fish include brown trout, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The county list is broader than any single water. At Clear Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 65°F and January near 10°F on the long-run figures. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Clear Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A nature reserve borders this water, which usually brings restrictions. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Peshtigo Lake, 0.7 miles away. Signs at Clear Lake carry more weight than any list.