Looking for a wilderness lake that’s easy to fish and doesn’t require a lot of fancy equipment, but yet offers quality fishing? Try a small lake of the Chequamegon National Forest.

The first things to consider before choosing a lake, is to determine what type of species you would like to fish for and what type of access is necessary for what you’re fishing out of. Whether it be a trailered-boat, canoe, or something in between.

A map showing the location of lakes, type of access, fish species present, and other information can be obtained free of charge from any forest service ranger station. There are two offices for the Great Divide Ranger District, which is the district closest to the Hayward area. They are located in Hayward and Glidden, Wisconsin. Another thing to mention is that a parking permit is required in the National Forest and can be purchased at the same offices.

Now lets get back to why these small lakes are often easier to fish than many lakes larger in size. The lakes I’m talking about are mainly less than 250 acres in size and have very few hidden structures in them. By hidden structures, I mean mid lake humps, long points, deep weed lines, fish cribs, etc.; all of which are common in bigger waters. Most of the smaller lakes are mainly bowl-shaped with gradually contouring bottom and a visible weed line not too far from shore.

What this means when it comes to fishing these types of lakes, is that often times just good old shoreline fishing is your best bet. Special attention should be given to any areas along the way that have anything different to them, such as downed trees, rock shoreline to sand, or just any changes in general. Also try deeper working baits around the boat and out the deep side to determine which produces the better action.

These helpful hints should get you started on fishing the small public lakes in the National Forest; and you just never know, you might even see an elk along the way! Good Fishing!!

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