Gilbert Lake Fishing in Washington County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Wisconsin holds Gilbert Lake, in Washington County. Elevation runs to 1,030 feet. The water covers some 35 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Supplies mean a trip to West Bend, 3.7 miles off. Milwaukee sits 31 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Water in the same corner: Cedar Lake a touch under 2.1 miles, Lucas Lake within 2.1 miles, Silver Lake a touch under 2.8 miles and Little Cedar Lake within 2.9 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Gilbert Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Public occurrence data for Washington County names common carp, pumpkinseed, green sunfish and largemouth bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Work Gilbert Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 17°F and July at about 70°F, the water has a wide range to work through. 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. The lid tends to go about early April and return around early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Gilbert Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. The water sits inside or beside a nature reserve, so expect extra rules. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Cedar Lake at 2.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Signs at Gilbert Lake carry more weight than any list.