Three Johns Lake Fishing Guide, Forest County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Three Johns Lake falls in Forest County, part of Wisconsin. The surface lies 1,693 feet up. It runs to roughly 48 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Shoreline comes to about 1.4 miles, small enough to learn in a day. It is high ground by Wisconsin standards. Start from Eagle River, 13 miles down the road. After that come Iron River at 20 miles and Stambaugh, Iron River at 20 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Three Johns Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Forest County include brown trout, largemouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike and bluegill. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Three Johns Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 10°F in January up to 65°F in July. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan any trip to Three Johns Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. There is a campsite 150 yards from the water. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, McKinley Lake is 0.3 miles off. Signs at Three Johns Lake carry more weight than any list.