Little Green Lake, Lake Puckaway, Grand Lake

Explore the Outdoors x s

Little Green Lake

Don’t let the word “little” fool you, there’s nothing small about the big fi sh coming out of Little Green Lake on the baited hooks of area anglers.

Walleye and muskies are not just common, but abundant in this 462-acre lake, Wisconsin’s southernmost Class A Muskie lake.

In early 1960, the Wisconsin Conservation Department selected Little Green Lake, cleared it of all fi sh and then restocked it with muskies, in addition to healthy quantities of walleye, bass and panfi sh. In later years, northern were also introduced, with many now sitting at the trophy size of 40 inches.

As the sun starts warming the waters in the spring, anglers can drift around the hundreds of public and private piers surrounding the lake in search of the largemouth bass (tail dancers) that have been feeding under those hiding spots.

If it’s walleyes you’re after, the Wisconsin DNR has put possession and length limits on these game fi sh, which help anglers catch trophy walleyes, in some instances, of over 12 pounds.

Little Green, as the locals call it, is one of the top lakes on the lists of most pan fi shermen as well. Perch and crappies reaching 14 inches, bluegills stopping shorter at 11 inches, and bullhead are all here for the taking.

Lake Puckaway

A verifi ed treasure trove with a Wisconsin state record that has stood for over 60 years, Lake Puckaway is home to the largest northern pike ever recorded, at 38 pounds.

And that’s just a hint of what is possible for anglers when casting their lines into the waters of Lake Puckaway.

At over 5,000 acres, Lake Puckaway is among the 20 largest lakes in the state. And with an average depth of only three feet, it’s easy to see why the various types of fi sh seem to almost jump out of the water and through the ice, begging to be caught year-round.

Securing a strong fi shing tradition for years to come, in 2009 the Lake Puckaway Protection and Rehabilitation District began a fi ve-year project with the DNR to increase the walleye population, meaning fi shing has never been better on this local treasure.

Grand Lake

Known by many in the area as the Kingston Mill Pond, Grand Lake is estimated to have been fi rst created in 1847, and possibly even as early as 1841.

A former favorite destination for swimming and other activities, Grand Lake has largely been relegated to grand fi shing in recent years due to a buildup of sediment.

Looking to return the lake to its full use and prominence, the Grand Lake Improvement Association was formed in the summer of 2016 and continues to work toward revitalizing the area.

Anglers need not worry about the lake’s health, however, as a natural spring located in the southern half of Grand Lake provides ample fresh water to sustain the many fi sh species that call Grand Lake home, even during the winter months.

Visit grandlakeimprovementassocia tion.weebly.com for more information on the group’s progress, to become a member, and to learn how you can contribute to the ongoing eff orts to make the lake “grand” once more.

LITTLE GREEN LAKE Size: 462 acres Average Depth: 10 feet Max Depth: 28 feet Recreation: Fishing, swimming, boating Fish: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, muskie, tiger muskie, walleye, panfish

LAKE PUCKAWAY Size: 5,013 acres Average Depth: 3 feet Max Depth: 5 feet Recreation: Fishing, swimming, boating, duck hunting Fish: Walleye, catfish, muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, northern pike

GRAND RIVER MARSH STATE WILDLIFE AREA Park: 7,000 acres Lake: 1,446 acres Max Lake Depth: 7 feet Recreation: Fishing, biking, birding, canoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing Fish: Panfish, largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, bluegill

GRAND LAKE Size: 242 acres Average Depth: 3 feet Max Depth: 8 feet Recreation: fishing Fish: Panfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye