Fishing at Marell Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Marell Lake is set in Vilas County, Wisconsin. The setting is lake country bush. About 22 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is high ground by Wisconsin standards. Supplies mean a trip to Wakefield, 11 miles off. The nearest city of size is Thunder Bay, 147 miles away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Marell Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Vilas County: bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Marell Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 65°F in July and bottoms out near 10°F in January. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. Ice clears near late April and comes back about late November in a typical year. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on Marell Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A boat ramp sits about half a mile from the water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Etna Lake is 0.9 miles distant. Confirm access to Marell Lake locally before you travel.