Fishing at Sunfish Lake, Langlade County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Sunfish Lake is a Langlade County water, Wisconsin side. What surrounds it is lake country bush. Small at around 11 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is high ground by Wisconsin standards. Antigo at 11 miles is the nearest place to stop. Nashville is 17 miles and Crandon 23 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Sunfish Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Langlade County include brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill and yellow perch. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Sunfish Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 66°F and January reads 10°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Sunfish Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Lower Bass Lake, 0.6 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Sunfish Lake.