Trout Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Trout Lake lies in Bayfield County, in Wisconsin. The ground round it is rolling bush. Surface area runs to about 15 acres — small enough to read in one session. Lake Nebagamon is the closest town at 16 miles. Ashland is 24 miles away, with Washburn at 26 miles. Other water within reach: Muskellunge Lake at about 0.5 miles, Silver Lake lies 0.6 miles on, Happles Lake at about 0.8 miles, Eagle Lake lies 1 mile on and Twin Bear Lake at about 1.1 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Trout Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Bayfield County include rainbow smelt, brown trout and yellow perch. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Trout Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 66°F; by January the average is down near 9°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Trout Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Muskellunge Lake is 0.5 miles distant. Confirm access to Trout Lake locally before you travel.