Lake Leota in Rock County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake Leota is a Rock County water, in Wisconsin. The water sits 906 feet up. At about 36 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The nearest place of any size is Evansville, 0.6 miles away. For a city, Madison is 21 miles off. Nearest other option: Little Gibbs Lake 6.2 miles away, Gibbs Lake about 6.3 miles, Bass Lake 7.1 miles away, Grass Lake about 7.8 miles and Island Lake 9.6 miles away. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Leota

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Open biodiversity records for Rock County list common carp, rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass and bluegill. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Lake Leota light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 16°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The lid tends to go about early April and return around early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. The season on Lake Leota rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. Public data records a pier about 70 yards out. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Little Gibbs Lake, 6.2 miles out. Check the position on Lake Leota before loading the car.