Indian Lake Fishing in Forest County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  In Wisconsin, Indian Lake falls inside Forest County. This is pine and birch country. At roughly 9 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Forest County list. The town to know is Crandon, 19 miles out. Green Bay is the closest city, 68 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Indian Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Forest County include brown trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch and northern pike. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Indian Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 66°F at the top of summer and 11°F at the bottom of winter. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. On average, mid April opens the water and late November closes it again. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. The season on Indian Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Curve Lake is 0.5 miles off. Confirm access to Indian Lake locally before you travel.