McKinley Lake Fishing in Forest County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Look for McKinley Lake in the Forest County part of Wisconsin. It stands 1,696 feet above sea level. The water covers some 49 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. About 1.4 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. It is high ground by Wisconsin standards. The closest town, Eagle River, is 13 miles away. Iron River lies 20 miles off, Stambaugh, Iron River another 20 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on McKinley Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. 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 Forest County include brown trout, largemouth bass and yellow perch. The county list is broader than any single water. On McKinley Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 10°F to 65°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan around that when you fish McKinley Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Three Johns Lake at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. None of that is settled for McKinley Lake in what we hold.