Price Lake near Hayward: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Price Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. The water covers some 74 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 2.0 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Size puts it in the front rank of our Bayfield County list. Hayward lies 18 miles from the water. Beyond it, Little Round Lake at 19 miles and Lake Nebagamon at 29 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Price Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Bayfield County: rainbow smelt, brown trout, yellow perch, rainbow trout and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Price Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 8°F and July at about 66°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Price Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A boat ramp sits half a mile away, so trailered boats can get on. Mapping puts a reserve boundary across this water; check what it allows. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Perry Lake, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Price Lake before loading the car.