Fishing at Rooney Lake, Oconto County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Oconto County in Wisconsin is where Rooney Lake sits. The land about it is rolling bush. This is a pocket water of some 16 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Nearest town is Crandon, 28 miles off. The big place round here is Green Bay, 65 miles distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Rooney Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Survey and observation records for Oconto County include brown trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and northern pike. The county list is broader than any single water. The near bank of Rooney Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 11°F in January up to 66°F in July. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid April. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. That shapes the year on Rooney Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Lake Irwin at 1.2 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Rooney Lake is worth confirming on the day.