Haskell Lake Fishing near Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Haskell Lake sits in Vilas County, out in Wisconsin. Height above sea level is 1,558 feet. At about 89 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The edge runs 2.2 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. You are 4.4 miles from Lac du Flambeau. Park Falls is 25 miles away, with Phillips at 27 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Haskell Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Vilas County records list bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Haskell Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 9°F in January and 66°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Time your trip to Haskell Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Booth Lake is 1.3 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Haskell Lake.