Manson Lake Fishing Guide, Oneida County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  The Oneida County entry here is Manson Lake, in Wisconsin. The surface lies 1,516 feet up. The water covers some 236 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 3.0 miles on foot. It ranks high for size among our Oneida County listings. Tomahawk sits 7.9 miles from the bank. After that come Rhinelander at 12 miles and Merrill at 27 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Manson Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Oneida County include brown trout, walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and bluegill. The county list is broader than any single water. The shape of Manson Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 67°F in July and bottom out at 10°F in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on Manson Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Stag Lake at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Manson Lake before loading the car.