Fishing at Saint Johns Lake, Forest County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Out in Forest County, Wisconsin, sits Saint Johns Lake. Land around it is rolling bush. The water covers some 107 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. A shoreline of some 2.2 miles keeps the choices simple. It is among the larger waters listed here for Forest County. Nearest place of any size is Nashville, 9.1 miles away. Crandon is 9.2 miles and Antigo 25 miles. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Saint Johns Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Forest County include brown trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike and bluegill. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Read Saint Johns Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 65°F and January near 10°F on the long-run figures. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Plan any trip to Saint Johns Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Walsh Lake at 0.8 miles is the sensible second choice. Signs at Saint Johns Lake carry more weight than any list.