Fishing at Sand Lake, Waushara County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Look for Sand Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin. Height above sea level is 1,089 feet. Roughly 52 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. A shoreline of some 1.3 miles keeps the choices simple. Start from Wautoma, 12 miles down the road. Further out sit Dakota (14 miles) and Silver Lake (15 miles). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Sand Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Waushara County include brown trout, rainbow trout, bluegill and largemouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At Sand Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 14°F in January to roughly 70°F in July. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. The lid tends to go about early April and return around early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. At Sand Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Goose Lake sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. For Sand Lake in particular, ask before you travel.