Lake Franchian near Wakefield: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  You will find Lake Franchian in Vilas County, Wisconsin. It lies 1,673 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 9 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our Vilas County list. Start from Wakefield, 13 miles down the road. Then Bessemer, 15 miles, and Ironwood, 17 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Lake Franchian

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Vilas County records list bluegill, yellow perch and walleye among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Lake Franchian light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 65°F, with January the cold end at about 10°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. The season between ice runs from about late April to late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It holds true on Lake Franchian more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Gretchen Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Lake Franchian locally before you travel.