Fishing Goose Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Goose Lake sits within Washburn County in Wisconsin. It stands 997 feet above sea level. Around 78 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. 8.8 miles away sits Spooner, the nearest town. Then Shell Lake, 14 miles, and Hayward, 24 miles. Also on the doorstep: Casey Lake 0.6 miles off, Sunfish Lake 0.9 miles away, Tomahawk Lake 1.1 miles off, Rigler Lake 1.2 miles away and Tower Lake 1.5 miles off. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Goose Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Washburn County include largemouth bass, bluegill, northern pike, yellow perch and walleye. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Goose Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 69°F, the coldest about 9°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Goose Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Casey Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Treat access at Goose Lake as something to verify.