Sugar Camp Lake near Eagle River: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Sugar Camp Lake lies in Oneida County, Wisconsin. The setting is lake country bush. The water covers around 519 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The shoreline runs about 5.4 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It ranks high for size among our Oneida County listings. Start from Eagle River, 8.9 miles down the road. After that come Rhinelander at 12 miles and Nashville at 23 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Sugar Camp Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Oneida County, recorded fish include brown trout, walleye, largemouth bass and northern pike. The county list is broader than any single water. On Sugar Camp Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 66°F in July and bottoms out near 10°F in January. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. That is the shape of the year on Sugar Camp Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Bass Lake, 0.6 miles out. Confirm before you fish Sugar Camp Lake.