Fishing at Johnson Lake, Bayfield County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Within Bayfield County, Wisconsin, you have Johnson Lake. This is rolling bush country. It covers about 10 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Nearest place of any size is Lake Nebagamon, 18 miles away. Saint Paul is the closest city, 141 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Johnson Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Bayfield County records list rainbow smelt, brown trout and yellow perch among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Johnson Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 66°F, the coldest about 9°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. On Johnson Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Long Lake sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. For Johnson Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.