Rainbow Lake near Wakefield: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Vilas County entry here is Rainbow Lake, in Wisconsin. It lies 1,634 feet above sea level. With some 130 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. It sits higher than most water we list in Wisconsin. Supplies mean a trip to Wakefield, 17 miles off. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 149 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Rainbow Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 10°F at the bottom of winter. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Rainbow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Geneveive Lake at 0.8 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at Rainbow Lake carry more weight than any list.