What Kind of Fish Live in Bluegill Lake, Wisconsin?

Bluegill Lake is a 20-acre lake located in Douglas County, Wisconsin, in the northwestern section of the state. Douglas County is bordered by Lake Superior to the north and the state of Minnesota on the west. Bluegill Lake is east of the larger Whitefish Lake and south of Bass Lake on Bass Lake Road. Bluegill Lake is about 77 feet deep and supports several species of fish including bluegill and game fish, such as the largemouth bass.

  1. Walleye

    • Walleyes are a slender fish with large eyes and a flared front dorsal fin. They have good vision and tend to stay in deep water during the day. Walleyes move to the shallow water in the late evening and at night, where they can be caught on almost any live bait, such as worms, minnows, smelt and other small bait fish. Walleyes are aggressive hunters, which makes them a favorite Wisconsin game fish.

    Northern Pike

    • Northern pike fish stay near the shallow areas of the lake under the cover of weeds. Anglers can usually find them in less than 12 feet of water. Although they prefer shallow, weedy areas, northern pike are most active in cool and cold water during the day. They are easily caught when ice fishing with a live bait, such as minnows or smelt. The northern pike can also be caught on artificial bait, such as a spoon.

    Largemouth Bass

    • Bluegill lake is home to largemouth bass. Largemouth bass tend to stay in deep water making it difficult to catch them from the lake shore. This fish is usually inactive during the day, preferring to feed in early morning and late evening. The largemouth bass is not finicky and will bite most any bait. They can be caught using live bait, such as minnows. This fish rarely bites during the winter months.

    Panfish

    • Bluegill Lake is populated by a number of species collectively called "panfish." Panfish include perch, crappies, warmouth, sunfish and bluegills. Find panfish in weedy areas in the summer months following their breeding season. Perch are the most difficult panfish to catch because they do not defend their nests after spawning. Perch also spend more time on the bottom of the lake than other species of panfish.