Lower Island Lake in Oconto County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Wisconsin holds Lower Island Lake, in Oconto County. It stands 1,168 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 13 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Head to Legend Lake, 24 miles away, for anything you forgot. Beyond it, Keshena at 25 miles and Gillett at 27 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lower Island Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Oconto County records list brown trout, largemouth bass and bluegill among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Read Lower Island Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 67°F for July and 12°F for January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The season between ice runs from about mid April to early December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. It holds true on Lower Island Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Mud Lake is 0.3 miles off. Check the position at Lower Island Lake before loading the car.