Fishing at Sunset Lake, Waupaca County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Sunset Lake falls in Waupaca County, part of Wisconsin. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. The water covers some 32 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. King is the closest town at 0.9 miles. It is 57 miles to Green Bay, the nearest city. No border sits close enough to matter. It sits away from the main road, which keeps the noise down.

• Where to Fish on Sunset Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Waupaca County include brown trout, flathead catfish and rainbow trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Sunset Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 70°F for July and 15°F for January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. Climate averages put the opening at about early April and the closing near early December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Sunset Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. Government Island covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Rainbow Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Sunset Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.