Cranberry Lake Fishing near Hayward, Wisconsin

• Overview

  This water sits in Douglas County, Wisconsin. Height above sea level is 991 feet. Around 146 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Bank access stretches around 2.3 miles in total. Size puts it in the front rank of our Douglas County list. The closest town, Hayward, is 24 miles distant. The nearest city of size is Saint Paul, 103 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Douglas County include yellow perch, walleye, white sucker and black crappie. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Read Cranberry Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 9°F to 68°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan any trip to Cranberry Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. For walleye, a jig and minnow near the bottom is the standard; evenings beat middays. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Crystal Lake is 1.2 miles distant. For Cranberry Lake in particular, ask before you travel.