Gibbs Lake Fishing in Rock County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  This water sits in Rock County, Wisconsin. The surroundings are pine and birch. The water covers some 73 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 1.2 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The town to know is Evansville, 6 miles out. Then Edgerton, 6.8 miles, and Stoughton, 9.5 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Gibbs Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Rock County: common carp, rainbow trout, brown trout and smallmouth bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Anyone new to Gibbs Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 16°F to 71°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Gibbs Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A ramp at Gibbs Lake Boat Launch is mapped half a mile away. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Little Gibbs Lake, 0.6 miles away. Check the position at Gibbs Lake before loading the car.