Fishing McMillan Reservoir in Marathon County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  McMillan Reservoir is set in Marathon County, Wisconsin. Elevation runs to 1,266 feet. With some 152 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The perimeter runs near 7.7 miles, so plan the walk before you start. Start from Marshfield, 4.9 miles down the road. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 108 miles away. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on McMillan Reservoir

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Records held for Marathon County cover brown trout, common carp and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At McMillan Reservoir light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 68°F and January about 10°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. That shapes the year on McMillan Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Beth Arthur Lane Pond Number 3, 12 miles away. For McMillan Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.