Woods Lake in Forest County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Wisconsin, Woods Lake belongs to Forest County. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. This is a pocket water of some 10 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Our Forest County list holds plenty of bigger water. Crandon lies 12 miles from the water. Beyond it, Nashville at 16 miles and Antigo at 33 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Woods Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Open biodiversity records for Forest County list brown trout, largemouth bass and yellow perch. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Take Woods Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 65°F in July and bottoms out near 11°F in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Woods Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Finnerty Lake, 0.5 miles away. For Woods Lake in particular, ask before you travel.