Ross Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Ross Lake is set in Vilas County, Wisconsin. The water sits 1,640 feet up. At about 153 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Around 3.4 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. It is high ground by Wisconsin standards. For a base, Lac du Flambeau sits 14 miles out. For a city, Green Bay is 126 miles off. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Ross Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Ross Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 65°F in July and bottoms out near 9°F in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. On Ross Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Oberlin Lake at 0.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at Ross Lake carry more weight than any list.