Fishing Lake of the Woods in Polk County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Polk County, Wisconsin, is where Lake of the Woods sits. The surroundings are lake country bush. It measures about 46 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The bank runs about 1.3 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Start from Cumberland, 6.5 miles down the road. Further out sit Turtle Lake (9.5 miles) and Luck (16 miles). The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Lake of the Woods

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Polk County, recorded fish include brown trout, rainbow trout, northern pike, largemouth bass and bluegill. The county list is broader than any single water. Lake of the Woods gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 69°F and January near 10°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lake of the Woods.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Blueberry Lake at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Lake of the Woods may have changed since it was mapped.