Fishing Cranberry Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Cranberry Lake lies in Bayfield County, in Wisconsin. The water sits 1,388 feet up. Surface area is around 55 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The full circuit measures close to 1.1 miles on foot. For a base, Little Round Lake sits 24 miles out. It is 132 miles to Saint Paul, the nearest city. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name rainbow smelt, brown trout, yellow perch, rainbow trout and white sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Cranberry Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 66°F, while January sits near 9°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Cranberry Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Boats go in at Funnys Lane Boat Launch, roughly half a mile from the water. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Jackson Lake is 0.8 miles off. Where Cranberry Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.