Big Green Lake

Lakes are Wisconsin’s mountains. They’re the hearts of their ecosystems and the focal points of surrounding communities. Growing up on a lake defines a person in all aspects of their life, from the things they learn and the way they have fun to a deeper appreciation of the reciprocal nature between humankind and the environment. Everyone who grows up on Big Green Lake owes a part of themselves to the lake. And everyone who visits aims to find that connection for themselves.

It starts at the beaches, where a family of four looks to relax on a sunny day and, later, a couple of teenagers lose themselves under the blue moonlight. Whether at Hattie Sherwood Beach, Dodge Memorial County Park, or Sunset Park, it doesn’t take a yacht or a fishing pole to make your own fun in the water.

That said, if you’re the sailing type, then by all means yacht the day away. Big Green has 7,346 acres to explore. If yachting isn’t your thing, consider the easygoing kayak or the breakneck action of a speedboat. There’s waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing to be had.

And if fishing is more your style, Big Green Lake provides some lunkers. Walleye and northern pike, lake trout, bass, and panfish roam somewhere in the 237-feet deep lake (Check out the Green Lake Fish Chart for specifics).

It’s not always straightforward, but they say the worst day of fishing is better than the best day at work. Then again, humorist Don Marquis said, “Fishing is a delusion entirely surrounded by liars in old clothes.” I wonder if that applies to ice fishing, also a prominent part of Green Lake culture. Wisconsin winters often transform Big Green Lake into a glistening wonderland. The snow-rimmed glass of lake ice provides opportunity for ice boating, where wind-powered sleds sail across the surface like greased otters on polished hardwood, often achieving speeds over 50 miles per hour—the sleds, not the otters.

LAKE TROUT Late May through mid-July, shallower water early, 40–60’. 100–140’ later. Small spoons, small shiners. WALLEYE Ice out until early May, fish shorelines. Last week in June until mid-July, fish weed beds. Early August through autumn, 25–50’ on hard-bottom drop-offs. Night crawlers, leeches. WHITE BASS Early May, fish shoreline on windy days, lake surface on calm days. July 10 through mid-September, troll spinners with small minnows, surface down to 40’. NORTHERN First three weeks of June, troll the weed beds. Large spinners, crank baits. July, fish in 25–40’ of water on the drop-offs. Large chubs, suckers. BASS Early May, work the shorelines. Warmer weather, fish the rock piles 15–20’. Spinner baits, tubes, crawlers, leeches. PANFISH Late April through early May, fish the shorelines, the bays, and by the dam. Late July, fish the cribs. Waxworms, small worms (garden or angle). ICE FISHING CISCO Early December, cisco are spawning and can be caught in 40–60’ of water on rocky shoals, or through winter with jigs and glow spoons. TROUT Late December through March. Small shiners. NORTHERN Fish in 12–18’ of water near big weed beds. Big shiners on tip-ups. WALLEYE Fish near big weed beds 8–12’ of water, or in water up to 30’. Small shiners, jigs, small spoons. PANFISH Plentiful in shallow water. Fish 30–40’ for larger fish. Small grubs, plastics. GREEN LAKE FISH CHART WHO THEY ARE | WHERE THEY ARE | WHEN | TOP BAIT

Or if you prefer things at a slower pace, there’s ice skating at Deacon Mills Wharf. Here, children try to figure out the difference between walking and skating in stiff-legged waddles occasionally leading to awkward falls. Their parents then rush over to help them up and encourage them to try again. All the while, couples glide along, hand in hand, taking turns stealing kisses from one another.

Whimsical for some, dynamic for others, all mixed with awe, Big Green Lake has a prevailing sense of romanticism about it that’s always captured in the wind drawing its voice out over the water. Though lake life doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone, its appeal is universal. I’ve heard it called the good life, but there’s much more to it than that. There’s an inspiration to do something intimate and discover what in life matters most to you. A lake isn’t a mirror, it’s a crystal ball, and we all know ourselves better after looking into it.

Kyle Jacobson is a writer and senior copy editor for Green Lake Magazine.

Photograph provided by Rory at Action Marina.

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HELPFUL WEBSITES

Fishing Licenses: gowild.wi.gov

Fishing Seasons: dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing /seasons/index.html

Parks & Boat Launches: visitgreenlake.com /things-to-do/parks

Tourist and Event Information: visitgreenlake.com