Dark Lake Fishing in Rusk County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Dark Lake is one of the Rusk County listings for Wisconsin. It sits in lake country bush country. It covers about 23 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. 10 miles away sits Bloomer, the nearest town. Saint Paul is the closest city, 85 miles away. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Dark Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Rusk County cover rainbow trout, brown trout, bluegill, largemouth bass and black crappie. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The near bank of Dark Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 11°F to 69°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on Dark Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. The car has to stay 0.9 miles away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. This lies within protected land, so the rules will be stricter than usual. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Ace-In-The-Hole Lake is 0.4 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Dark Lake for certain.