Jim Lake near Amherst: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Jim Lake is one of the Portage County waters in Wisconsin. The water sits 1,063 feet up. Amherst is the closest place, 8.1 miles off. Green Bay sits 65 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Also worth knowing: Pierces Lake within 0.4 miles, Pine Lake out at 0.8 miles, Huntleys Lake within 0.9 miles, Pleasant Lake out at 1 mile and Boelter Lake within 1.2 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Jim Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Species logged across Portage County include brown trout, rainbow trout, common carp and bluegill. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Jim Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 70°F and January at 14°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Break-up comes around early April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near early December. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on Jim Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Pierces Lake, 0.4 miles out. Treat access at Jim Lake as something to verify.