Nelson Lake Fishing Guide, Sawyer County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  You will find Nelson Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. It lies 1,250 feet above sea level. It covers about 4.1 sq miles, which means weather matters as much as tactics. The outline measures near 25 miles, so a boat opens up water the bank never reaches. It ranks high for size among our Sawyer County listings. Nearest place of any size is Hayward, 4.6 miles away. It is 111 miles to Saint Paul, the nearest city. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Nelson Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Sawyer County records list walleye, brown trout, largemouth bass and muskellunge among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Nelson Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 67°F, the coldest about 9°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Expect Nelson Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. The water sits inside or beside a nature reserve, so expect extra rules. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Smith Lake, 1.7 miles out. What applies at Nelson Lake may have changed since it was mapped.