Upson Lake near Hurley: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Upson Lake sits in Iron County, out in Wisconsin. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. Roughly 49 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Some 13 miles away sits Hurley, the nearest settlement. For a city, Thunder Bay is 149 miles off. Other water within reach: Weber Lake some 2.4 miles off, Shirley Lake 6 miles off, O'Brien Lake some 6.6 miles off, Fifteen Lake 8 miles off and Maki Lake some 8 miles off. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Upson Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, muskellunge and rainbow trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. At Upson Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 10°F at the bottom of winter. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Upson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. 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. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Weber Lake at 2.4 miles is the sensible second choice. For Upson Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.