Pautz Lake in Shawano County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Shawano County end of Wisconsin holds Pautz Lake. It lies 879 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 15 acres — small enough to read in one session. The town to know is Bonduel, 2.1 miles out. Beyond it, Pulaski at 9.9 miles and Shawano at 10 miles. Nearest other option: White Clay Lake 3.2 miles away, Mud Lake 3.5 miles, Pensaukee Lakes 4.4 miles away, Korth Lake 5.2 miles and Bahr Lake 5.5 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Pautz Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Open biodiversity records for Shawano County list brown trout, northern pike, largemouth bass, yellow perch and bluegill. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Pautz Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 14°F in January up to 69°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. On average, mid April opens the water and early December closes it again. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Pautz Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, White Clay Lake at 3.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Pautz Lake are worth checking on the day.