Horn Lake Fishing in Washington County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Washington County in Wisconsin is where Horn Lake sits. The surface lies 869 feet up. About 10 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. For supplies, Newburg is 2.8 miles out. Milwaukee is the closest city, 25 miles away. Others within reach: Daly Lake just 1.5 miles, Mud Lake 2.2 miles, Sandhill Lake just 2.7 miles, Haneman Lake 2.9 miles and Newburg Pond 243 just 3 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Horn Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Washington County records list common carp, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, largemouth bass and bluegill among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Horn Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 70°F for July and 18°F for January. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near early December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It holds true on Horn Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Public data records a pier about half a mile out. The water borders Shannon Preserve, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Daly Lake sits 1.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Horn Lake for certain.