Red Ike Lake in Ashland County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Ashland County end of Wisconsin holds Red Ike Lake. This is pine and birch ground. Around 38 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. 23 miles away sits Little Round Lake, the nearest town. The big place round here is Saint Paul, 132 miles distant. Others close at hand: Delano Lake 0.6 miles away, Bentley Lake some 0.6 miles off, Noble Lake 0.7 miles away, Hadley Lake some 0.7 miles off and Lower Clam Lake 0.9 miles away. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Red Ike Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Ashland County records list rainbow smelt, yellow perch, white sucker and johnny darter among the fish reported. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Red Ike Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 9°F to 66°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on Red Ike Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Delano Lake is 0.6 miles distant. What applies at Red Ike Lake may have changed since it was mapped.