Iola Lake

This Waupaca County water is Iola Lake, a lake with published numbers of about 220 acres and a maximum depth of 9 feet, which is the first thing I would want to know if a buddy asked me about this place.

Start with the basics

I would make the first trip about learning the water, not conquering it and I would make sure I actually fish one shallow area, one stretch of cover, and one deeper break and I would take a couple of bites in one type of water over a dozen pretty spots with no life.

What you can fish for

For this exact water, the recorded fish are Black Crappie, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, and Yellow Perch; which tells me to think about weeds, wood, rock, or docks for bass and weeds and easy cover for panfish, and stick with what produces signs of life.

Keeping the first trip simple

If a buddy asked me how to start on Iola Lake, I would make a short plan, fish it honestly, and change areas only when the water gives me a reason, then I would confirm the current rules before the first fish ever comes over the side.