Fishing Lake Barbara in Iron County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  You will find Lake Barbara in Iron County, Wisconsin. It sits in rolling bush country. Surface area is around 27 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Compared with other Wisconsin water on our list, it sits high. Hurley lies 14 miles from the water. After that come Ironwood at 14 miles and Bessemer at 15 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Lake Barbara

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Iron County records list walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, muskellunge and rainbow trout among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Lake Barbara fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 10°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. That is the shape of the year on Lake Barbara.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. 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. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Lake Dorothy at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. For Lake Barbara in particular, ask before you travel.