Fishing Crane Foot Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Crane Foot Lake sits within Lincoln County in Wisconsin. It sits at 1,663 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 15 acres — small enough to read in one session. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Wisconsin listings. Supplies mean a trip to Tomahawk, 9.8 miles off. Merrill follows at 17 miles, then Rhinelander at 18 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Crane Foot Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Lincoln County include brown trout, rainbow trout, pumpkinseed, walleye and bluegill. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Crane Foot Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 10°F in January and 66°F in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. On Crane Foot Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Bruce Lake, 1.6 miles out. Treat access at Crane Foot Lake as something to verify.