Tank Lake Fishing in Bayfield County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  The Bayfield County end of Wisconsin holds Tank Lake. Height above sea level is 1,079 feet. Surface area runs to about 24 acres — small enough to read in one session. Start from Ashland, 20 miles down the road. Then Washburn, 24 miles, and Lake Nebagamon, 29 miles. Within a short run: Siegal Lake roughly 1.4 miles, Deer Lake 1.7 miles away, Lake Osborn roughly 2.7 miles, Sage Lake 3.2 miles away and Deer Lick Lake roughly 3.4 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Tank Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across Bayfield County: rainbow smelt, brown trout, yellow perch, rainbow trout and white sucker. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The shape of Tank Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 10°F in January to roughly 66°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Tank Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. The water sits inside or beside a mapped nature reserve, so expect additional rules. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Siegal Lake is 1.4 miles off. Confirm access to Tank Lake locally before you travel.