North Smoky Hill Flowage near Stratford: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Marathon County, Wisconsin, is where North Smoky Hill Flowage sits. The ground round it is mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 16 acres — small enough to read in one session. You are looking at roughly 3.1 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. The closest town, Stratford, is 10 miles distant. Mosinee lies 12 miles off, Marshfield another 13 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on North Smoky Hill Flowage

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Fish documented in Marathon County include brown trout, common carp, yellow perch and bluegill. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. The near bank of North Smoky Hill Flowage is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 12°F in January and 69°F in July. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. North Smoky Hill Flowage runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Smoky Hill Flowage is 0.4 miles off. The position on North Smoky Hill Flowage is worth confirming on the day.