Fishing Heart Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  The Lincoln County end of Wisconsin holds Heart Lake. Land around it is rolling bush. About 3 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Lincoln County are larger. Merrill is the closest town at 8.2 miles. The big place round here is Green Bay, 99 miles distant. Close by you have: Hat Lake about 0.2 miles, Tug Lake at 0.6 miles, Olivotti Lake about 0.6 miles, Mud Lake at 2.4 miles and Larson Lake about 2.4 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Heart Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Lincoln County cover brown trout, rainbow trout and pumpkinseed. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Heart Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 10°F in January. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Open water usually runs from mid April until about late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Heart Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Hat Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Heart Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.