Perch Lake Fishing in Bayfield County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  In Wisconsin, Perch Lake belongs to Bayfield County. It lies 1,214 feet above sea level. With some 69 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Around 1.4 miles of margin, front to back. Few waters listed in Bayfield County are bigger. Nearest place of any size is Lake Nebagamon, 22 miles away. The big place round here is Saint Paul, 134 miles distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Perch Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name rainbow smelt, brown trout, yellow perch, rainbow trout and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Perch Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 66°F on average, January about 9°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. 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. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Time your trip to Perch Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Clay Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Perch Lake should be assumed from this page alone.