Godfrey Lake in Polk County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Wisconsin holds Godfrey Lake, in Polk County. Beyond the shoreline you have rolling bush. With some 50 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The whole outline is near 1.2 miles, and most of it is walkable. Nearest town is Frederic, 7.7 miles off. Beyond it, Luck at 13 miles and Grantsburg at 17 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Godfrey Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Polk County, recorded fish include brown trout, rainbow trout and northern pike. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Treat Godfrey Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 69°F for July and 10°F for January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The lid usually goes in early April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Godfrey Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Sand Lake sits 2.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Godfrey Lake before loading the car.