Elna Lake near Rhinelander: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Elna Lake is set in Oneida County, Wisconsin. The water sits 1,588 feet up. Small at around 21 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Some 8.5 miles away sits Rhinelander, the nearest settlement. Then Tomahawk, 17 miles, and Eagle River, 22 miles. In the same area: Maud Lake 0.4 miles away, Liege Lake sits 0.8 miles out, Clear Lake 1.1 miles away, Newbold Lake sits 1.2 miles out and Timber Lake 1.2 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Elna Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Oneida County records list brown trout, walleye and largemouth bass among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Elna Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 66°F and January near 10°F on the long-run figures. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Elna Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Maud Lake, 0.4 miles out. Signs at Elna Lake carry more weight than any list.