Fishing Lake Seventeen in Florence County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Lake Seventeen falls in Florence County, part of Wisconsin. The water sits 1,450 feet up. At 22 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Around 0.8 miles of margin, front to back. Supplies mean a trip to Stambaugh, Iron River, 16 miles off. After that come Iron River at 17 miles and Crystal Falls at 19 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lake Seventeen

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Florence County include brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass and bluegill. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Lake Seventeen the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 65°F and January reads 10°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Expect Lake Seventeen to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Grub Hoe Lake, 1.3 miles out. What applies at Lake Seventeen may have changed since it was mapped.