Tug Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, this is Tug Lake. Height above sea level is 1,444 feet. Around 151 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The bank runs about 2.3 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Few waters listed in Lincoln County are bigger. For a base, Merrill sits 8.5 miles out. It is 98 miles to Green Bay, the nearest city. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Tug Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Lincoln County, recorded fish include brown trout, rainbow trout and pumpkinseed. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Tug Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 67°F; by January the average is down near 10°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. That is the shape of the year on Tug Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Heart Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. For Tug Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.