Pickerel Lake near Luck: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Pickerel Lake falls in Polk County, part of Wisconsin. The country round it is pine and birch from end to end. Small at around 15 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Luck, is 9.2 miles away. After that come Frederic at 11 miles and Cumberland at 13 miles. Nearest other option: Mullins Lake within 0.3 miles, Rhinstad Lake at about 0.5 miles, Bass Lake within 0.6 miles, Lamont Lake at about 0.9 miles and Pine Lake within 1.2 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Pickerel Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fish documented in Polk County include brown trout, rainbow trout and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Pickerel Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 69°F, the coldest about 10°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. That is the shape of the year on Pickerel Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Mullins Lake, 0.3 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Pickerel Lake for certain.