Fishing at Deer Lake, Waushara County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Within Waushara County, Wisconsin, you have Deer Lake. Everything around it is pine and birch. The water measures roughly 18 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. The nearest town is Wautoma, 11 miles away. Beyond it, Dakota at 12 miles and Silver Lake at 15 miles. This one is safely inside the county line. The name is not unique in this state, so check the county before you drive.

• Where to Fish on Deer Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name brown trout, rainbow trout, bluegill and largemouth bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The shape of Deer Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 14°F in January to roughly 70°F in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Expect Deer Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Pine Lake, 0.6 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Deer Lake for certain.