Deer Lake Fishing near Gillett, Wisconsin

• Overview

  The Oconto County end of Wisconsin holds Deer Lake. The bank is 817 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 26 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Ground here is low by Wisconsin standards. Nearest place of any size is Gillett, 11 miles away. Oconto Falls lies 13 miles off, Legend Lake another 18 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Deer Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Open biodiversity records for Oconto County list brown trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Work Deer Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 13°F to 69°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan any trip to Deer Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Papoose Lake is 0.9 miles distant. Treat access at Deer Lake as something to verify.