HOOKER LAKE

Kenosha County, Wisconsin

By Ken Poor

     Hooker Lake is typical of the hundreds of small, relatively featureless, drainage lakes that dot the countryside of southeast Wisconsin and Northeast Illinois. Commonly these lakes are shallow, about 30-feet deep or less, dishpan shaped, and less than 150-acres in size. Although these lakes lack the diverse physical characteristics of the more glamorous “big water” lakes, the one thing they do not lack is excellent fishing.  Largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish, and an occasional walleye are commonly found in these small bodies of water.

LOCATION

     Hooker Lake is located in south central Kenosha County, Wisconsin, about twenty minutes west of Interstate 94, and about ¾ of a mile south of Highway 50.  Highway 83 parallels the west shore of the lake about a mile to the west. To reach the launch ramp from Highway 50 take 242nd. Street south to 78th. Street. Turn left on 78th Street for about 200 yards and the ramp is on the left. 

DESCRIPTION

     At 103 acres, Hooker Lake has a maximum depth of 24-feet and medium clear water. The north half of the lake is a large weedy flat with a maximum depth of 14-feet. In contrast the south end of the lake has sharper drop-offs and a maximum depth of 24-feet.

Small silver/black floating
minnow imitators twitched over weed beds or in open pockets is a great choice for bass on Hooker Lake

     Bottom composition along the west shore is muck, peat, or a combination of both. Sections of the north and east shorelines are a mixture of sand and gravel with patches of muck. In most areas the sand/gravel bottom does not extend out past the 5-foot contour line.

     Weeds are the primary source of cover for fish in all parts of the lake. Deep weed edges generally follow the 12-foot contour line and are well defined.

     During the ice-fishing season I marked submerged brush piles in the south end of the lake in about 16-feet of water. At times these cribs will attract various species of fish either to feed or for protection.

FACILITIES

     Access to the lake is located on the north end of the lake on 78th. Street at the T-channel. The single lane paved ramp and there is a fee to use the site.  There are about six parking spaces at the launch site. Boating and fishing regulations are posted at the launch site.

SPECIES

     Local anglers consider Hooker a good northern pike lake. During the open water season, I fish the lake for largemouth bass and any northern pike I catch are bonus fish. Excellent numbers of panfish can be taken in or around the channels especially early in the spring when the crappies move into the channels to spawn.

Largemouth Bass – Good Numbers – Good Size

Northern Pike – Good Numbers – Good Size

Crappie – Good Numbers – Good Size

Bluegill – Excellent Numbers – Fair Size

Perch – Good Numbers – Small Size

Walleye – Weak Numbers – Fair Size

TECHNIQUES

     Like most small lakes Hooker receives a fair amount of fishing pressure and the fish can be easily spooked. Plan your approach to each spot so that you and the boat are in a good position to make each cast count. Work every area slowly and thoroughly with several long, carefully placed cast. Try to minimize the disturbance to the section you are fishing.

Crankbaits worked along deep weed edges are good choice for bass and northern pike on Hooker Lake.

      Floating yellow/black or silver/black, 3/8-ounce, crankbaits with rattles are an effective lure on Hooker Lake for either bass or pike. A floating crankbait can be twitched on the surface or cranked down the face of weed beds using a slow or medium retrieve to reach deeper fish. The combination of rattles, short wide profile, and colors that match the forage base provides an easy to locate natural appearing feeding opportunity for bass or northern pike.

     As a backup for your crankbaits use a 3/8-ounce spinnerbait or a Texas rigged plastic worm. On most of the small lakes I prefer a 6-inch watermelon with red spots or a chartreuse worm.

     Crankbaits or spinnerbaits can be worked effectively on spinning gear, but my recommendation is a 6-1/2 or 7-foot., medium action bait-casting rod with a soft tip. Spool your reel with a high quality 12-pound test (or heavier) line.  

     Normally I will use a snap or snap-swivel with crankbaits and tie the line directly to spinnerbaits. If you prefer to tie your line directly to the crankbait either remove the split-ring or check your line every few casts for “nicks”.

     For the Texas worm rig you will want to go with a heavy action, 6 to 6 ½-foot baitcasting or spinning outfit and spool your reel with at least 12-pound test line or a suitable power line. The line you use depends on the type of cover you are fishing. Heavy line will allow you to muscle fish out of thick weeds, brush or fallen trees.

A Texas rigged plastic worm worked in a weed bed took this nice bass on Hooker Lake.
Small silver/black floating minnow imitators twitched close to or in open pockets in weed beds is a great technique for bass on Hooker Lake.

     The slip float rig is an excellent choice for panfish when fishing along weed edges, open pockets in weed beds, around brush piles, tree stumps or when you mark suspended fish on your locator. Use a good quality 6-foot spinning rod and reel spooled with 6 to 8-pound test monofilament line.

     Work the selected area with a slip float rig and small ice fishing jigs tipped with grubs, pieces of night crawler, or crickets. When fishing with a slip float rig don’t cast directly to the spot you want to fish. Cast up wind and let it drift to the spot you are targeting. Ideally the bait should be 6 to 12- inches above the depth the fish are holding at. Fish will move up to take a bait, but are less likely to move down to feed.

     After you make your cast, wait for the bait to sink and the float to go vertical before you reel up the slack line. If you reel up to soon, you may pull the rig away from the spot you were casting to. Pay attention to your float. Set the hook if you see any movement, up, down, or sideways.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

     Fishermen visiting lakes, such as Hooker Lake, located in residential neighborhoods have an obligation to be especially considerate of the people who live in the area. Pick up your trash, keep the noise down, and park only in designated places. Show the locals that you care about them and their lake, and we can all continue to share good fishing opportunities.

     Additionally, heavy fishing pressure can seriously impact small lakes. Catch, photograph, and release (CPR) can help ensure the future quality of fishing in all of our area lakes. Hooker Lake can provide many exciting memories if we do not abuse this resource.