Fishing Crystal Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Crystal Lake stands in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. It sits in rolling bush. Around 84 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The whole outline is near 1.5 miles, and most of it is walkable. It ranks high for size among our Bayfield County listings. Lake Nebagamon at 11 miles is the nearest place to stop. It is 135 miles to Saint Paul, the nearest city. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Crystal Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Bayfield County include rainbow smelt, brown trout, yellow perch, rainbow trout and white sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Take Crystal Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 67°F and January near 9°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Crystal Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Reserve land runs up to the bank here, so read the notices. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. If the gate is shut, Jones Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Crystal Lake for certain.