Fishing Ole Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  The Bayfield County end of Wisconsin holds Ole Lake. The ground round it is rolling bush. Roughly 79 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Shoreline comes to about 2.1 miles, small enough to learn in a day. On our Bayfield County list it sits near the top for size. Little Round Lake sits 13 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Hayward follows at 16 miles, then Park Falls at 36 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Ole Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Bayfield County, recorded fish include rainbow smelt, brown trout, yellow perch, rainbow trout and white sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Ole Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 66°F in July and bottoms out near 9°F in January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually goes in mid April, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It holds true on Ole Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Lewis Lake is 1.2 miles distant. Rules at Ole Lake are worth checking on the day.