Hazel Lake Fishing Guide, Oconto County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Hazel Lake is one of the Oconto County waters in Wisconsin. It stands 889 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 3 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Our Oconto County list holds plenty of bigger water. The closest town, Gillett, is 26 miles distant. Oconto Falls is 28 miles away, with Peshtigo at 29 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Hazel Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Oconto County, recorded fish include brown trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Hazel Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 12°F in January and 67°F in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan any trip to Hazel Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Bottle Lake is 0.2 miles distant. Check the current arrangement for Hazel Lake.