Little Van Zile Lake Fishing Guide, Forest County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  In Wisconsin, Little Van Zile Lake falls inside Forest County. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. The water measures roughly 17 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Crandon at 16 miles is the nearest place to stop. Further out sit Nashville (22 miles) and Stambaugh, Iron River (25 miles). No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Little Van Zile Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Forest County include brown trout, largemouth bass and yellow perch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Little Van Zile Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 65°F and January near 11°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Little Van Zile Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Van Zile Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Little Van Zile Lake before loading the car.