Fishing Skinaway Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Look for Skinaway Lake in the Barron County part of Wisconsin. Mixed forest runs right down to the water. It measures about 64 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 2.1 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Start from Turtle Lake, 0.9 miles down the road. For a city, Saint Paul is 55 miles off. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Skinaway Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Barron County: brown trout, largemouth bass and northern pike. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Skinaway Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 70°F and January near 10°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Skinaway Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Reserve land runs up to the bank here, so read the notices. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Elbow Lake is 0.6 miles distant. For Skinaway Lake in particular, ask before you travel.