Pickerel Lake in Portage County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Portage County, Wisconsin, sits Pickerel Lake. It sits at 1,073 feet above sea level. At about 41 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Roughly 1.1 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. Nearest place of any size is King, 9.1 miles away. The big place round here is Green Bay, 66 miles distant. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Pickerel Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Portage County include brown trout, rainbow trout, common carp, bluegill and northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Pickerel Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 70°F in July and bottom out at 14°F in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early April until roughly early December. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Pickerel Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A made slipway is half a mile from here, which settles the boat question. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Pine Lake at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. For Pickerel Lake in particular, ask before you travel.