Smith Lake Fishing near Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Smith Lake sits within Bayfield County in Wisconsin. The water sits 1,135 feet up. At about 32 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. 18 miles away sits Lake Nebagamon, the nearest town. Hayward lies 21 miles off, Little Round Lake another 25 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge. The shoreline gives more room than the map suggests.

• Where to Fish on Smith Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Bayfield County include rainbow smelt, brown trout and yellow perch. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Fish Smith Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 67°F on average, January about 8°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It holds true on Smith Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. This lies within protected land, so the rules will be stricter than usual. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Shunenberg Lake is 0.4 miles off. Confirm access to Smith Lake locally before you travel.