Fishing Hemlock Lake in Menominee County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Menominee County in Wisconsin is where Hemlock Lake sits. It sits at 1,165 feet above sea level. At 10 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Menominee County are larger. Antigo lies 15 miles from the water. For a city, Green Bay is 55 miles off. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Hemlock Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Menominee County records list brown trout, northern pike, largemouth bass and bluegill among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The near bank of Hemlock Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 67°F and January reads 12°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Hemlock Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Burney Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Hemlock Lake before loading the car.