Gordon Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Gordon Lake belongs to Vilas County, Wisconsin. The country here is pine and birch. Roughly 56 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Around 1.1 miles of margin, front to back. The closest town, Eagle River, is 2.4 miles away. After that come Rhinelander at 20 miles and Crandon at 27 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Gordon Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Gordon Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 66°F, with January the cold end at about 10°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. On Gordon Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Spring Lake, 0.7 miles away. Confirm before you fish Gordon Lake.