Pickerel Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Pickerel Lake sits in Lincoln County, out in Wisconsin. The bank is 1,739 feet above sea level. It measures about 49 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline comes to about 1.2 miles, small enough to learn in a day. It is high ground by Wisconsin standards. For a base, Tomahawk sits 11 miles out. It is 96 miles to Green Bay, the nearest city. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Pickerel Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Lincoln County, recorded fish include brown trout, rainbow trout, pumpkinseed and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. Anyone new to Pickerel Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 67°F and January near 10°F on the long-run figures. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan around that when you fish Pickerel Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Failing this one, try Bughouse Lake, 0.4 miles away. For Pickerel Lake in particular, ask before you travel.