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

• Overview

  Mud Lake is one of the Forest County waters in Wisconsin. The ground around here is pine and birch. Small at around 17 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Nearest place of any size is Crandon, 18 miles away. Stambaugh, Iron River is 24 miles and Nashville 25 miles. Water in the same corner: Little Van Zile Lake after 2.8 miles, Lake Nona within 3 miles, Ross Lake after 3.2 miles, Van Zile Lake within 3.3 miles and Rat Lake after 4 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Across Forest County, recorded fish include brown trout, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Mud Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 65°F and January reads 11°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. At Mud Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Little Van Zile Lake is 2.8 miles distant. Check the position at Mud Lake before loading the car.