Fishing McNamar Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  McNamar Lake falls in Taylor County, part of Wisconsin. The land about it is mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 9 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Taylor County. The nearest place of any size is Medford, 7.5 miles away. The big place round here is Green Bay, 126 miles distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on McNamar Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Taylor County include brown trout, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, bluegill and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. McNamar Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 67°F and January about 10°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It holds true on McNamar Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Cronin Lake, 1.1 miles out. Check the position at McNamar Lake before loading the car.