Jersey Valley Lake 8 in Vernon County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Vernon County, Wisconsin, you have Jersey Valley Lake 8. It sits at 1,076 feet above sea level. Around 52 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The bank runs about 1.5 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Among the waters listed for Vernon County, none is wider. Supplies mean a trip to Cashton, 3.5 miles off. The big place round here is Madison, 82 miles distant. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Jersey Valley Lake 8

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. County-wide records name brown trout, common carp, rainbow trout, brook trout and bluegill. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. At this water the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 71°F in July and bottom out at 13°F in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at early December. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. The season on this water follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. A parking area is marked roughly half a mile out. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Pinnacle Rock Pond is 6.2 miles off. Check the position on this water before loading the car.