Cooley Lake Fishing in Oconto County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Cooley Lake lies in Oconto County, in Wisconsin. The bank is 814 feet above sea level. It measures about 63 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The bank runs about 1.4 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. On our Oconto County list it sits near the top for size. Gillett lies 9.5 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 37 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Cooley Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Oconto County include brown trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Work Cooley Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 69°F; by January the average is down near 13°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about early December in a typical year. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Cooley Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Turtle Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. For Cooley Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.