Fishing at Smear Lake, Bayfield County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  You will find Smear Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. It sits at 1,404 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 9 acres — small enough to read in one session. Hayward at 18 miles is the nearest place to stop. Saint Paul is the closest city, 124 miles away. Nearby alternatives: Lake Wilipyro within 0.6 miles, Henry Lake out at 0.8 miles, Samoset Lake within 0.8 miles, Little Rosa Lake out at 0.9 miles and Rosa Lake within 1.1 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Smear Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Bayfield County cover rainbow smelt, brown trout, yellow perch and rainbow trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Take Smear Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 66°F; by January the average is down near 8°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. The season on Smear Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Lake Wilipyro sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Smear Lake before loading the car.