Idlewild Lake near Lake Nebagamon: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Idlewild Lake is a Bayfield County water, in Wisconsin. It sits at 1,132 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 19 acres — small enough to read in one session. Lake Nebagamon is the closest town at 15 miles. Saint Paul sits 122 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Idlewild Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Bayfield County include rainbow smelt, brown trout and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Idlewild Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 67°F, the coldest about 8°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Anyone fishing Idlewild Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. The slipway at Pickerel Lake Boat Landing is half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Pickerel Lake, 1 mile out. For Idlewild Lake in particular, ask before you travel.