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Wisconsin · Fishing
Drummond sits in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin, and the fishing around town reflects that setting: a cluster of smaller lakes and ponds within reasonable driving distance, each with its own character.
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Drummond sits in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin, and the fishing around town reflects that setting: a cluster of smaller lakes and ponds within reasonable driving distance, each with its own character. The five spots listed on Roamze cover lake fishing at Perch Lake Recreation Area, Stewart Lake, Stratton Ponds, and Mirror Lake, plus surf fishing at Lake Owen Recreation Area. These are not destination trophy fisheries with resort infrastructure built around them — they are working northern Wisconsin lakes where you show up with a canoe or a pair of waders and figure it out. That suits a certain kind of angler just fine. Perch Lake and Stewart Lake are the kind of spots where panfish and bass are realistic targets on a summer morning without a lot of gear or planning. Stratton Ponds tends to draw anglers looking for a quieter experience away from motorized boat traffic. Lake Owen is the largest water in the group and the only one listed for surf fishing, meaning shore access is a real option there. Mirror Lake rounds out the list as a smaller, calmer option. If you are driving up from the Twin Cities or Milwaukee, Drummond is worth treating as a base rather than a day trip — the fishing is spread out enough that two or three days lets you work through the options properly.
The lakes listed here are typical northern Wisconsin inland lakes, so expect panfish like bluegill and perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and northern pike. Walleye are present in some Chequamegon-area lakes but nothing in the current activity listings specifically flags any of these waters as walleye destinations, so treat that as a bonus rather than a plan.
Lake Owen Recreation Area is specifically listed for surf fishing, which means shore access is a real option there. The other four spots are listed as lake fishing, and access varies — Perch Lake Recreation Area and Stewart Lake have developed recreation area infrastructure that typically includes some shore access, but a canoe, kayak, or small motorized boat will open up more water at all of them.
Namekagon
~28 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Beaver Lake (Chequamegon-Nicolet NF, WI)
~32 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
East Twin
~38 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Namekagon River - Cable Access
~17 min drive
Moderate
Day Lake
~36 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Lake Three
~34 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Mirror Lake
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Brule River - Stone's Bridge
~34 min drive
Moderate
Black Lake
~51 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Mineral Lake
~37 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Stratton Ponds
~4 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Chippewa Flowage - Herman Landing
~50 min drive
Moderate
Late May through early July is generally the most productive window for bass and panfish in northern Wisconsin lakes — water temperatures are rising and fish are active after the spawn. Early fall, roughly late August through September, is a strong second window. Midsummer midday fishing on smaller lakes like Mirror Lake and Stratton Ponds tends to slow down as surface temperatures peak.
Early morning, within the first two hours after sunrise, is consistently the most productive time on these smaller lakes. Evening from about an hour before sunset until dark is a close second, especially for bass on topwater. Midday is the slowest period in summer and is better spent scouting access points or switching lakes.
Yes, a valid Wisconsin fishing license is required for anyone 16 or older. Some waters in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest have specific size or bag limits that differ from statewide defaults, so check the Wisconsin DNR regulations for Bayfield County before you go rather than assuming standard rules apply. The DNR website lets you look up specific water bodies by name.
