Crooked Lake Fishing in Oconto County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  You will find Crooked Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. It lies 942 feet above sea level. Roughly 155 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. On our Oconto County list it sits near the top for size. Gillett at 24 miles is the nearest place to stop. Legend Lake follows at 26 miles, then Oconto Falls at 27 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Crooked Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Oconto County: brown trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Crooked Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 68°F for July and 13°F for January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly early December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. It holds true on Crooked Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Launching is possible: a slipway lies half a mile off. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Bass Lake sits 0.3 miles off and takes the overflow. For Crooked Lake in particular, ask before you travel.