Upper Kelly Lake Fishing near Hales Corners, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Upper Kelly Lake is set in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. The bank gives way to pine and birch. Small at around 13 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Wisconsin listings. Hales Corners at 1.1 miles is the nearest place to stop. After that come New Berlin at 3.1 miles and Greenfield at 3.2 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Upper Kelly Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Milwaukee County include common carp, rainbow trout and goldfish. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Upper Kelly Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 19°F in January to roughly 72°F in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late March. Break-up near late March, freeze-up near mid December: that is the shape of an average year. 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 Upper Kelly Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Lower Kelly Lake at 0.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Upper Kelly Lake should be assumed from this page alone.