Spruce Lake Fishing Guide, Oconto County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Spruce Lake is set in Oconto County, Wisconsin. This is rolling bush ground. At roughly 7 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Oconto County standards. The closest town, Crandon, is 26 miles away. Then Nashville, 30 miles, and Kingsford, 31 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Spruce Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Oconto County include brown trout, largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Read Spruce Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 66°F in July and bottom out at 11°F in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on Spruce Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. King Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. For Spruce Lake in particular, ask before you travel.