Reich Lake near Medford: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Reich Lake lies in Taylor County, in Wisconsin. The water sits 1,706 feet up. At 15 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Compared with other Wisconsin water on our list, it sits high. Supplies mean a trip to Medford, 18 miles off. Then Tomahawk, 23 miles, and Athens, 24 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Reich Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Open biodiversity records for Taylor County list brown trout, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and bluegill. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Reich Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 66°F; by January the average is down near 9°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. The season between ice runs from about mid April to late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. That is the shape of the year on Reich Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Long Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Reich Lake locally before you travel.