Mills Lake near Lake Nebagamon: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Mills Lake falls in Douglas County, part of Wisconsin. The surface lies 1,073 feet up. At 6 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by Douglas County standards. Supplies mean a trip to Lake Nebagamon, 8.1 miles off. The nearest city of size is Saint Paul, 120 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Mills Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Reported across Douglas County: yellow perch, walleye, white sucker, black crappie and rainbow smelt. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The near bank of Mills Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 67°F; by January the average is down near 8°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Mills Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Walleye come to jigs worked slow near bottom, and to trolled crankbaits along the drops at dusk. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Gilbert Lake, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the current arrangement for Mills Lake.