Patterson Lake Fishing in Iron County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Look for Patterson Lake in Iron County, Wisconsin. It lies 1,581 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 68 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Shoreline comes to about 1.2 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Nearest town is Park Falls, 13 miles off. It is 145 miles to Green Bay, the nearest city. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Patterson Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Iron County include walleye, northern pike and yellow perch. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Patterson Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 66°F at the top of summer and 10°F at the bottom of winter. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. The season on Patterson Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Newman Lake at 0.9 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Patterson Lake may have changed since it was mapped.