Perch Lake near Gillett: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Perch Lake sits within Oconto County in Wisconsin. The ground around here is rolling bush. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. Most waters listed here for Oconto County are larger. Nearest place of any size is Gillett, 20 miles away. It is 45 miles to Green Bay, the nearest city. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Perch Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Oconto County: brown trout, largemouth bass and bluegill. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Fish Perch Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 68°F and January reads 13°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan around that when you fish Perch Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Reader Lake is 0.4 miles off. What applies at Perch Lake may have changed since it was mapped.