West Horsehead Lake near Rhinelander: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  West Horsehead Lake sits in Oneida County, out in Wisconsin. It sits in mixed forest. It measures about 145 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 2.6 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. The nearest place of any size is Rhinelander, 11 miles away. For a city, Green Bay is 113 miles off. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on West Horsehead Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for Oneida County include brown trout, walleye and largemouth bass. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Treat West Horsehead Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 66°F; the cold one sits at 10°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan any trip to West Horsehead Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, East Horsehead Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Treat access at West Horsehead Lake as something to verify.