Fishing at Wild Goose Lake, Polk County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Polk County, Wisconsin, is where Wild Goose Lake sits. Height above sea level is 1,112 feet. Roughly 190 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. A shoreline of some 2.3 miles keeps the choices simple. It ranks high for size among our Polk County listings. Nearest town is Amery, 9.1 miles off. Luck is 10 miles away, with Saint Croix Falls at 11 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Wild Goose Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. County-wide records name brown trout, rainbow trout, northern pike, largemouth bass and bluegill. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Take Wild Goose Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 10°F in January and 70°F in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid April and starts locking again about late November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Time your trip to Wild Goose Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is East Lake, 0.7 miles out. Check the position at Wild Goose Lake before loading the car.