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Wisconsin · Fishing
Cedar Lake, Wisconsin sits in Barron County, and the fishing around here centers on three lakes worth knowing by name: Round Lake, Hemlock Lake, and Red Cedar Lake.
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Cedar Lake, Wisconsin sits in Barron County, and the fishing around here centers on three lakes worth knowing by name: Round Lake, Hemlock Lake, and Red Cedar Lake. These are classic northern Wisconsin lake fisheries, the kind where you're after walleye, bass, northern pike, and panfish depending on the season and how much time you want to spend on the water. Red Cedar Lake is the largest of the three and tends to draw the most traffic, which means early mornings matter more there than on the quieter Hemlock Lake. None of these are destination fisheries in the trophy-water sense, but they're consistent producers for anglers who know how to read structure and adjust to the season. If you're driving up from the Twin Cities or Milwaukee, the lakes are accessible enough that a day trip is realistic, though a weekend gives you time to move between all three and figure out where the fish are actually sitting. Wisconsin fishing licenses are required for anyone 16 and older, and Barron County lakes fall under standard Wisconsin DNR regulations, so check current season dates and size limits before you go.
All three lakes support typical northern Wisconsin warm-water species including walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, and panfish like bluegill and crappie. Red Cedar Lake, being the largest, tends to have more consistent walleye structure. Hemlock Lake is smaller and quieter, which can make it a better bet for bass and panfish without the boat traffic.
Late May through June is strong across all three lakes as fish move shallow after the spawn and are actively feeding. Early fall, roughly late August through October, is another productive window especially for walleye and northern pike. Midsummer fishing is slower during the heat of the day but can pick up in low-light periods.
Red Cedar Lake
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Chippewa Flowage - Herman Landing
~50 min drive
Moderate
Hemlock Lake
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Round Lake
~5 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Fenton Lake
~13 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Nick Lake
~15 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Puefold Lakes
~16 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Sams Lake
~16 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
River Lake
~16 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Long Lake
~19 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Bear Lake
~20 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Chinty Lake
~22 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Early morning and the hour before sunset are consistently the most productive windows, particularly for walleye on Red Cedar Lake. Midday fishing in summer is generally slow unless you're targeting panfish in shaded or deeper water. On overcast days the bite can hold through the afternoon.
A boat or kayak gives you a real advantage on all three lakes since the better structure tends to be away from shore. That said, shore fishing is possible at public access points, and panfish in particular can be caught from the bank during spring and early summer when they're in the shallows. Check the Wisconsin DNR's public access map before you go to confirm current launch and shore access locations.
A Wisconsin fishing license is required for anyone 16 or older. These lakes fall under standard Wisconsin DNR regulations for Barron County, which set size and bag limits for walleye, bass, and northern pike. Regulations can change season to season, so verify current rules at the Wisconsin DNR website or a local bait shop before heading out.
