Metonga Lake in Forest County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Forest County, Wisconsin, this is Metonga Lake. The surface lies 1,591 feet up. Surface area runs to roughly 3.2 sq miles, so plan for one area rather than the whole. You are looking at roughly 7.7 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. It is the biggest water on our Forest County list. Crandon sits 2.1 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Green Bay is 83 miles off. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Metonga Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Forest County records list brown trout, largemouth bass and yellow perch among the fish reported. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Metonga Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 10°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Metonga Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Surprise Lake is 1.7 miles distant. Treat access at Metonga Lake as something to verify.