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Wisconsin · Fishing
Gordon sits in the lake country of Douglas County, where the St. Croix River headwaters and a dense scatter of inland lakes make fishing a year-round conversation.
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Gordon sits in the lake country of Douglas County, where the St. Croix River headwaters and a dense scatter of inland lakes make fishing a year-round conversation. The four fishable waters listed on Roamze for this area cover a range of experiences: Woodtick Lake and East Twin are classic north-woods lake fisheries, while Day Lake shows up twice — once for standard lake fishing and once for surf fishing, which tells you something about its size and the way wind and wave action can push fish along its shoreline. This is not a destination built around one marquee river or a single trophy species. It's the kind of area where you pick a lake, learn its structure, and put in the time. Expect mixed-bag fishing — largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, and panfish are common throughout Douglas County lakes of this type. Access points vary by water, so checking current Wisconsin DNR regulations before you go is worth the ten minutes, particularly for season dates and any size or bag limits specific to individual lakes.
Douglas County lakes in this part of Wisconsin typically hold walleye, northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, and crappie. Without species-specific survey data for each water, your best move is to pull the DNR's fish survey reports for Woodtick Lake, Day Lake, and East Twin individually — those reports list what was found, in what numbers, and at what sizes.
On an inland lake, surf fishing generally means casting from the shoreline into open water rather than fishing from a boat or dock, often along windward banks where wave action concentrates baitfish and feeding predators. You don't need ocean-style surf gear — a medium-heavy spinning rod in the 7-foot range, heavier line, and lures that can be worked through chop will serve you well.
Day Lake
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
East Twin
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Mineral Lake
~14 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Namekagon River - Cable Access
~32 min drive
Moderate
Namekagon
~20 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Sailor Lake Pavilion
~1h 4m drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Beaver Lake (Chequamegon-Nicolet NF, WI)
~14 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Chippewa Flowage - Herman Landing
~42 min drive
Moderate
Black Lake
~24 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Day Lake
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Lake Three
~16 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
Lake Owen Recreation Area
~31 min drive
A worthwhile stop near WI.
The walleye and bass opener in Wisconsin typically falls in early May, and the weeks immediately following are productive before fishing pressure builds. Late summer evenings can be good for bass and pike near weed edges. Ice fishing on these lakes runs roughly December through February depending on freeze conditions, and many locals consider it the most reliable season for panfish.
Yes, anyone 16 or older needs a valid Wisconsin fishing license. You can buy one online through the Wisconsin DNR's Go Wild portal, at a local bait shop, or at a sporting goods retailer. If you're fishing for trout or salmon, you'll also need a separate trout stamp — check whether any of these waters have a trout designation before you go.
Shoreline access at lakes like Day Lake makes it workable for kids and newer anglers who aren't comfortable on a boat. Bluegill and crappie are forgiving targets that bite through much of the day and don't require precise technique. Bringing a simple bobber-and-worm setup alongside whatever else you're fishing is a reliable way to keep younger anglers engaged.
