Fishing at Pre-emption Creek Pond, Bayfield County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Bayfield County, Wisconsin, is where Pre-emption Creek Pond sits. The surface lies 1,404 feet up. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. Our Bayfield County list holds plenty of bigger water. The closest town, Ashland, is 22 miles distant. Saint Paul sits 135 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Pre-emption Creek Pond

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Bayfield County include rainbow smelt, brown trout, yellow perch, rainbow trout and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Pre-emption Creek Pond a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 9°F and July at about 66°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Anyone fishing Pre-emption Creek Pond regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. For a change of water, East Davis Lake is 0.8 miles distant. Check the position at Pre-emption Creek Pond before loading the car.