Musky Shop Lake of the Month: Mildred Lake
Talk about a lake that welcomes you with pristine, quiet, and relaxing vibes, look no further than Mildred Lake. Mildred Lake is situated about 15 minutes North West of Rhinelander surrounded by white birch, poplar, and pine. It is the very definition of “getaway” when seeking a retreat in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
The size class of Mildred Lake might leave you shaking your head if you’re coming from Green Bay, as Mildred is tiny by comparison. Its total size is only 168 acres, but it has a nice bowl shape with water depths around 45 feet. Mildred is noted to be a seepage lake in Wisconsin with no real flowage into or out of, so its depth fluctuates with local rainfall and groundwater level.
Taking a monster motor boat isn’t necessary to reach all of the fishable waters on Mildred. Many find that a Jon boat or kayak will do the trick for a day trip and will add to your enjoyment on the water. The public boat ramp situated on the Eastern shore is small and parking is limited, so keep that in mind when planning your day out.
The sediment of Mildred is mainly sand, with the occasional mucky or rocky bottom. Plants are minimal and the water is superbly clear. Because musky are notoriously skittish, clear water is not always a favorite among tested fishermen. But where there are muskies, there are ways and sometimes it takes a little finesse to get one on the hook while fishing on Mildred Lake. Recommendations include, fishing with some distance off the shoreline, because even though the plants are thin, they do provide some habitat. If you usually fish 20 feet from the shoreline, crank it out a bit further and work on a long form cast to prevent being noticed.
Mildred Lake has a good number of panfish, so using a common natural color with a little extra flash might get you hooked up with the musky of your dreams. Take a look around for cribs and small patches of vegetation to direct your casts, but don’t forget that muskies are known to patrol. Many times, in sandy lakes, you won’t find muskies parked, but you will find them patrolling the shoreline during peak hours, so all water is up for grabs.
The Western end of Mildred consists of many islands and thinner water, so it’s perfect for your shore lunch retreat between casts; and also stop here to try your hand at catching some bass or crappie. For lure recommendations, sometimes it’s best to stick with natural color while fishing clear. A good quality glider, such as Bitten Tackle Warlock in Ghost (similar to black crappie) or Drifter Hellhound in Glitter Walleye, might give you the edge you need when worked slow and low with good long pauses. If a bucktail is your game, reach the deeper bottoms with an RJ Tiger Tail in Golden Brown.
Stocking reports from the Wisconsin have Mildred listed with a round of stocking that took place in 2006, so there is always the chance for a Monster fish on this Trophy water, but I wouldn’t be sad about a 40 incher either! Musky fishing on Mildred welcomes a good chance for bi-catch too with many pike on the loose. So, take a day out and give Mildred Lake a try. If you don’t have success in fishing, you will not be disappointed by the beauty of the lake, the abundant wildlife (bear sightings are common), and peaceful tranquility of the area.