Fishing at Phillips Lake, Marinette County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Wisconsin holds Phillips Lake, in Marinette County. It sits at 1,030 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 14 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Niagara is the closest place, 18 miles off. Green Bay sits 71 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Phillips Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Marinette County cover brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Phillips Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 12°F in January to roughly 67°F in July. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on Phillips Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Disney Lake at 1.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat access at Phillips Lake as something to verify.