Fishing at Crane Lake, Forest County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Crane Lake is a Forest County water, Wisconsin side. The bank is 1,289 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 14 acres — small enough to read in one session. Crandon sits 26 miles from the bank. For a city, Green Bay is 66 miles off. Also worth knowing: Berry Lake out at 0.9 miles, Cloud Lake lies 1.5 miles on, Lake Irwin out at 1.6 miles, Spruce Lake lies 1.8 miles on and King Lake out at 2 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Crane Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Forest County include brown trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch and northern pike. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Crane Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 11°F to 66°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Time your trip to Crane Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Berry Lake at 0.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing on Crane Lake should be assumed from this page alone.