Fishing at Salow Lake 1, Waukesha County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  The Waukesha County end of Wisconsin holds Salow Lake 1. The surroundings are mixed forest. At roughly 14 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Waukesha County list. Head to Wales, 3.5 miles away, for anything you forgot. The nearest city of size is Milwaukee, 22 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Salow Lake 1

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Waukesha County records list common carp, bluegill, brown trout and rainbow trout among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Treat this water as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 71°F on average, January about 18°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early April. The lid tends to go about early April and return around mid December. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. That is the shape of the year on this water.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Etter Lake, 0.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on this water is worth confirming on the day.