Forest Lake Fishing near Nashotah, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Forest Lake is set in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. It sits at 886 feet above sea level. With some 43 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The closest town, Nashotah, is 0.6 miles distant. Milwaukee sits 25 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Forest Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Waukesha County include common carp, bluegill and brown trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Forest Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 17°F in January to roughly 71°F in July. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. From about early April to around mid December, expect open water on the long-run figures. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Forest Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. There are picnic tables half a mile away. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Grass Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Forest Lake for certain.