West Lake Fishing near Iron Mountain, Wisconsin

• Overview

  West Lake belongs to Florence County, Wisconsin. This is pine and birch country. It runs to roughly 72 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Start from Iron Mountain, 6.7 miles down the road. Beyond it, Kingsford at 8 miles and Quinnesec at 9.9 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on West Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Florence County cover brown trout, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill and northern pike. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Fish West Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 11°F in January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. The season between ice runs from about mid April to late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. West Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. A ramp is mapped within half a mile. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. North Lake sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to West Lake locally before you travel.