Smoke Lake in Oconto County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Smoke Lake is set in Oconto County, Wisconsin. It sits at 1,302 feet above sea level. Around 51 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. It is among the larger waters listed here for Oconto County. Crandon lies 22 miles from the water. Nashville lies 24 miles off, Antigo another 31 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Smoke Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name brown trout, largemouth bass and bluegill. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Smoke Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 66°F, the coldest about 11°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. The season on Smoke Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Little Pickerel Lake, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the current arrangement for Smoke Lake.