Matson Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Washburn County in Wisconsin is where Matson Lake sits. The bank gives way to pine and birch. The water covers some 39 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 1.1 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Head to Rice Lake, 17 miles away, for anything you forgot. Spooner follows at 17 miles, then Shell Lake at 18 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Matson Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Washburn County list largemouth bass, bluegill and northern pike. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Matson Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 68°F for July and 9°F for January. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It sets the rhythm of the year at Matson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Bodins Lake is 0.6 miles off. Confirm access to Matson Lake locally before you travel.