Minister Lake Fishing near Amherst, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Set in Portage County, Wisconsin, this is Minister Lake. It lies 1,099 feet above sea level. About 17 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Amherst lies 6.4 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 62 miles away. More in the same country: Skunk Lake at 0.4 miles, Sunset Lake some 0.4 miles off, Budsberg Pond at 1.3 miles, Onland Lake some 1.6 miles off and Rinehart Lake at 1.7 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Minister Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Portage County cover brown trout, rainbow trout, common carp and bluegill. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Fish Minister Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 13°F and July at about 69°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. In an average year the thaw lands around early April and the freeze near early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It sets the rhythm of the year at Minister Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Skunk Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Minister Lake for certain.