Horseshoe Lake in Manitowoc County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Horseshoe Lake falls in Manitowoc County, part of Wisconsin. The bank is 886 feet above sea level. At about 25 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. You are 3 miles from Meeme. Cleveland is 7.3 miles away, with Kiel at 7.3 miles. Other water nearby: West Lake sits 0.3 miles out, Scout Lake within 1.7 miles, Ranger Lake sits 1.9 miles out, Cedar Lake within 2.4 miles and Spring Lake sits 2.7 miles out. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Horseshoe Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name brown trout, rainbow trout and common carp. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Horseshoe Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 69°F in July and bottom out at 17°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. On average, early April opens the water and early December closes it again. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at Horseshoe Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, West Lake is 0.3 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Horseshoe Lake.