Duck Lake Fishing near Stambaugh, Iron River, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Wisconsin holds Duck Lake, in Florence County. The setting is rolling bush on every side. With some 55 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The full circuit measures close to 1.1 miles on foot. Stambaugh, Iron River sits 9.6 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Iron River is 10 miles away, with Crystal Falls at 19 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Duck Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Florence County, recorded fish include brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill and northern pike. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. The near bank of Duck Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 10°F in January. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It sets the rhythm of the year at Duck Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. 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. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Chuks Lake, 1.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Duck Lake locally before you travel.