Fishing at Pickerel Lake, Columbia County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Look for Pickerel Lake in the Columbia County part of Wisconsin. It stands 823 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 23 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is low-lying compared with other Wisconsin water we list. Nearest place of any size is Portage, 5.7 miles away. Beyond it, Poynette at 6.7 miles and Lake Wisconsin at 7.3 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Pickerel Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Columbia County include brown trout, common carp and rainbow trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Pickerel Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 71°F; by January the average is down near 16°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. On average, early April opens the water and early December closes it again. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Time your trip to Pickerel Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Mapping puts a reserve boundary across this water; check what it allows. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lost Lake sits 2.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Pickerel Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.