Grass Lake Fishing near Hayward, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Grass Lake is one of the Bayfield County waters in Wisconsin. It sits at 1,322 feet above sea level. It covers about 5 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is a small entry by Bayfield County standards. Hayward is the closest place, 24 miles off. Lake Nebagamon lies 25 miles off, Little Round Lake another 25 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Grass Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Reported across Bayfield County: rainbow smelt, brown trout, yellow perch and rainbow trout. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Grass Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 66°F, while January sits near 8°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Grass Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Mill Pond Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. For Grass Lake in particular, ask before you travel.