Fishing Makwa Lake in Marinette County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Wisconsin holds Makwa Lake, in Marinette County. The water sits 899 feet up. About 15 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The nearest place of any size is Gillett, 28 miles away. Further out sit Peshtigo (29 miles) and Oconto Falls (29 miles). Other water nearby: High Falls Reservoir sits 1.7 miles out, Woods Lake a shade over 2.3 miles, Borth Lake sits 2.4 miles out, Sand Lake a shade over 2.6 miles and Hazel Lake sits 2.7 miles out. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Makwa Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Survey and observation records for Marinette County include brown trout, rainbow trout and largemouth bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Makwa Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 12°F in January up to 68°F in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly early December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It sets the rhythm of the year at Makwa Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. High Falls Reservoir, 1.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Makwa Lake is worth confirming on the day.