Mystery Lake Fishing Guide, Bayfield County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Mystery Lake is a Bayfield County water, Wisconsin side. It sits in rolling bush. Small at around 11 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Lake Nebagamon, is 20 miles distant. Ashland is 20 miles and Washburn 22 miles. Others worth noting: Getsey Lake near enough 0.4 miles, Tub Lake at 0.6 miles, Phantom Lake near enough 0.7 miles, Mud Flat Lake at 0.7 miles and Toothpick Lake near enough 0.9 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Mystery Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Bayfield County: rainbow smelt, brown trout, yellow perch and rainbow trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The near bank of Mystery Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 67°F, while January sits near 9°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Time your trip to Mystery Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Getsey Lake, 0.4 miles out. Confirm before you fish Mystery Lake.