Upper Gresham Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Upper Gresham Lake is a Vilas County water, in Wisconsin. It stands 1,601 feet above sea level. The shoreline runs about 5.3 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It ranks high for size among our Vilas County listings. Head to Lac du Flambeau, 10 miles away, for anything you forgot. Beyond it, Eagle River at 26 miles and Wakefield at 30 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Upper Gresham Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Vilas County list bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The near bank of Upper Gresham Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 9°F in January up to 65°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Upper Gresham Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A made slipway is half a mile from here, which settles the boat question. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Jag Lake at 1.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Upper Gresham Lake locally before you travel.