Cranberry Lake in Douglas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Douglas County, Wisconsin, you have Cranberry Lake. It lies 1,112 feet above sea level. At about 124 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. It is among the larger waters listed here for Douglas County. Hayward sits 18 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Beyond it, Lake Nebagamon at 19 miles and Little Round Lake at 22 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Douglas County include yellow perch, walleye, white sucker, black crappie and rainbow smelt. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The shape of Cranberry Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 67°F, the coldest about 8°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Cranberry Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lower Eau Claire Lake sits 0.7 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Cranberry Lake in what we hold.