Reed Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Reed Lake in the Burnett County part of Wisconsin. The bank is 928 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 30 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Grantsburg at 7 miles is the nearest place to stop. Saint Paul is the closest city, 68 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Reed Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Survey and observation records for Burnett County include brown trout, northern pike and largemouth bass. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Work Reed Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 69°F in July and bottoms out near 9°F in January. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid April. Averages place the thaw at mid April and the freeze at late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That shapes the year on Reed Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Dike 2 Flowage, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Reed Lake is worth confirming on the day.