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

• Overview

  Set in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, this is Mud Lake. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to about 15 acres — small enough to read in one session. Ground here is low by Wisconsin standards. Some 2 miles away sits Greendale, the nearest settlement. The big place round here is Milwaukee, 8.1 miles distant. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Milwaukee County: common carp, rainbow trout, goldfish and bluegill. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Mud Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 72°F and January about 20°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Once it clears, about late March, the fishing comes on quickly. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late March until roughly mid December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. On Mud Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Scout Lake at 1.6 miles is the sensible second choice. For Mud Lake in particular, ask before you travel.