Island Lake Fishing in Shawano County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Set in Shawano County, Wisconsin, this is Island Lake. It sits at 968 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 39 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. For a base, Keshena sits 7.2 miles out. It is 46 miles to Green Bay, the nearest city. Also on the doorstep: Big Lake 0.7 miles, Beaulieu Lake within 0.9 miles, Koonz Lake 0.9 miles, Mud Lake within 1.1 miles and Mission Lake 2.9 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Island Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Shawano County cover brown trout, northern pike, largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Take Island Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 68°F and January reads 13°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Island Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Big Lake at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Island Lake are worth checking on the day.