Fishing Elk Creek Lake in Dunn County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Elk Creek Lake lies within the bounds of Dunn County, Wisconsin. It sits at 804 feet above sea level. It measures about 53 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline comes to about 2.0 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Ground here is low by Wisconsin standards. Nearest place of any size is Eau Claire, 7.5 miles away. For a city, Rochester is 68 miles off. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Elk Creek Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Records held for Dunn County cover brown trout, common carp, bluegill and black crappie. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Elk Creek Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 12°F to 71°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early April. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Elk Creek Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Launching is possible: a slipway lies half a mile off. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. Mapping shows a picnic spot within half a mile. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Old Elk Lake sits 3.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat Elk Creek Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.