Fish Lake in Dane County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Fish Lake is set in Dane County, Wisconsin. The ground around here is lake country bush. About 401 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. About 2.6 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. On our Dane County list it sits near the top for size. Roxbury lies 2.9 miles from the water. Further out sit Prairie du Sac (3.6 miles) and Sauk City (3.7 miles). You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Fish Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Dane County: brown trout, common carp, bluegill and rainbow trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Fish Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 15°F to 71°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly early December. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It holds true on Fish Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. The water sits inside or beside a nature reserve, so expect extra rules. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Alder Pond is 1.3 miles distant. Nothing on Fish Lake should be assumed from this page alone.