Fishing Horseshoe Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  The Burnett County end of Wisconsin holds Horseshoe Lake. Height above sea level is 955 feet. This is a pocket water of some 16 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Burnett County standards. 17 miles away sits Frederic, the nearest town. Spooner follows at 19 miles, then Shell Lake at 19 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Horseshoe Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Burnett County, recorded fish include brown trout, northern pike and largemouth bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Horseshoe Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 69°F in July and bottoms out near 10°F in January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Plan around that when you fish Horseshoe Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Sunfish Lake, 0.6 miles out. Confirm before you fish Horseshoe Lake.