Fishing at Little Bass Lake, Oneida County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Oneida County in Wisconsin is where Little Bass Lake sits. It sits at 1,627 feet above sea level. About 3 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Oneida County list. Rhinelander lies 9.8 miles from the water. Green Bay sits 93 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Little Bass Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Oneida County, recorded fish include brown trout, walleye and largemouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Little Bass Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 66°F and January near 10°F on the long-run figures. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. On average, mid April opens the water and late November closes it again. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Time your trip to Little Bass Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Bass Lake at 0.2 miles is the nearest alternative. For Little Bass Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.