Fishing Cosgrove Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Cosgrove Lake is a Florence County water, in Wisconsin. It stands 1,161 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 76 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The whole outline is near 2.5 miles, and most of it is walkable. It ranks high for size among our Florence County listings. The closest town, Iron Mountain, is 7 miles away. Further out sit Kingsford (8.2 miles) and Quinnesec (10 miles). This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Cosgrove Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass and bluegill. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Fish Cosgrove Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 11°F to 67°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. At Cosgrove Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. West Lake at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Cosgrove Lake before loading the car.