Mallard Lake in Sawyer County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Sawyer County in Wisconsin is where Mallard Lake sits. It stands 1,404 feet above sea level. With some 27 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Nearest town is Spooner, 17 miles off. Then Little Round Lake, 17 miles, and Shell Lake, 18 miles. What else is close: Beartrap Lake 0.2 miles off, 0.2 miles away is Telstar Lake, Otter Lake 0.3 miles off, 0.3 miles away is Deep Lake and Sawmill Lake 0.5 miles off. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Mallard Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name walleye, brown trout, largemouth bass, muskellunge and northern pike. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Mallard Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 9°F in January up to 68°F in July. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It sets the rhythm of the year at Mallard Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is a mapped slipway roughly half a mile away. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. The nearest alternative is Beartrap Lake, 0.2 miles out. For Mallard Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.