High Lake Fishing near Nashville, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Out in Langlade County, Wisconsin, sits High Lake. It lies 1,637 feet above sea level. At 8 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It sits higher than most water we list in Wisconsin. For supplies, Nashville is 12 miles out. Antigo is 16 miles away, with Crandon at 16 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on High 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. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Langlade County include brown trout, rainbow trout and largemouth bass. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. High Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 66°F, with January the cold end at about 10°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. The season between ice runs from about mid April to late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It sets the rhythm of the year at High Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. The water borders Wolf River State Fishery Area, so reserve rules are likely to apply. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Gilkey Lake is 0.5 miles off. What applies at High Lake may have changed since it was mapped.