Vilas County is home to some incredible fishing, however, northern pike are secondary on most of the bodies of water up here and you don’t really see too many anglers report catching big northern pike up here. There are plenty of waters where you can target them and catch them, but expect to see smaller pike on many of the lakes where you will run into them. On some of the bigger lakes in Vilas County, there are some quality pike available, but don’t expect to find lots of them. However, there are plenty of lakes where you can target them and have double digit numbers with an occasional bigger pike over 30 inches. If you’re into northern pike, there are enough waters to chase them for sure, but just know that they are secondary on most of the lakes up here.
Below, we have it organized by towns to help you learn about the entire county’s best northern pike waters.
Arbor Vitae, WI
Bittersweet Lake
Bittersweet Lake is a 104 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 31 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include panfish, largemouth bass and northern pike. All of these species of fish are listed as common by the DNR.
Boulder Junction, WI
Northern Highland Fishery Research Area
The Northern Highland Fishery Research Area is an experimental project of the DNR which has been going on since 1946. It includes Escanaba, Nebish, Mystery, Spruce and Pallette Lakes. To fish these lakes, you need to visit the station on Escanaba Lake and fill out a free permit. You will also have to go back to the station at the end of the day to give them the details of what you caught as well as what fish you are taking home.
Lost Canoe Lake
Lost Canoe Lake is a 279 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 41 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish are common in this lake. Muskie and smallmouth bass are listed as present.
Other Lakes
Allequash Lake
Allequash Lake is a 406 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 24 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, panfish are abundant in this lake. Muskie, northern pike, walleye and largemouth bass are considered common in the lake. Smallmouth bass are listed as present.
Mann Lake
Mann Lake is a 253 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 18 feet. Fish include northern pike and panfish. According to the DNR, pike and panfish are considered common in the lake.
Trout Lake
Trout Lake is a 3,864 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 117 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from multiple public boat landings. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, muskie, walleye, northern pike, trout, smallmouth bass and panfish are common in this lake. Largemouth bass are listed as present.
Conover & Phelps, WI
Little Tamarack Flowage
Little Tamarack Flowage is a 236 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 16 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from one public boat landing. Fish include muskie, panfish, largemouth bass and northern pike. According to the Wisconsin DNR, panfish, largemouth bass and northern pike are common in this lake and muskie are present.
Upper Buckatabon Lake & Lower Buckatabon Lake
Upper Buckatabon Lake is a 493 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 47 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from one public boat landing. Lower Buckatabon Lake is a 378 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 16 feet. Both lakes have muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye in them. Panfish are considered abundant in these lakes according to the Wisconsin DNR. Northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass and muskie are considered common and smallmouth bass are considered present.
Eagle River, WI
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Lakes
Franklin Lake
Franklin Lake is a 839 acre lake located in the Nicolet National Forest of Forest County. It has a maximum depth of 46 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. The Wisconsin DNR lists smallmouth bass, panfish and walleye as common on this lake, but many anglers report it is also a good northern pike lake even though the DNR has pike listed only as “present” for this lake. The water is very clear on this lake.
Boot Lake
Boot Lake is a 286 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 15 feet. Fish include muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass, walleye and panfish. According to the DNR, panfish are abundant in the lake while muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass and walleye are considered common.
Muskellunge Lake
Muskellunge Lake is a 270 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 19 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye, northern pike and panfish are considered common in the lake while largemouth bass are listed as present.
Lac du Flambeau, WI
Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes
The Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes are popular with anglers and boaters alike. The lakes are beautiful with crystal clear, spring-fed water. Many people refer to this chain as the Fence Lake Chain since Fence Lake is the largest body of water on the chain. The lakes that are part of the chain are Big Crawling Stone Lake, Fence Lake, Flambeau Lake, Little Crawling Stone Lake, Long Interlaken Lake, Moss Lake, North Twin Placid Lake, South Twin Placid Lake, Pokegama Lake. Fence Lake is the best lake on the chain if you’re looking to target some quality pike.
Learn more about the Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes
Other Area Lakes
Amber Lake
Amber Lake is a 736 acre lake located in Vilas and Oneida Counties. It has a maximum depth of 21 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. According to the DNR, muskie, northern pike, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are listed as present.
Apeekwa Lake
Apeekwa Lake is a 206 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 5 feet. Fish include muskie, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye and panfish. According to the DNR, northern pike are abundant in the lake while muskie and panfish are considered common. Largemouth bass and walleye are listed as present.
Buckskin Lake
Buckskin Lake is a 642 acre lake located in Vilas, Oneida Counties. It has a maximum depth of 22 feet. Fish include muskie, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye and panfish. According to the DNR, northern pike, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake while muskie and largemouth bass are listed as present.
Shishebogama Lake
Shishebogama Lake is a 700 acre lake located in Vilas, Oneida Counties. It has a maximum depth of 42 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye, largemouth bass and panfish are considered common in the lake. Smallmouth bass and northern pike are listed as present.
Turner Lake
Turner Lake is a 159 acre lake located in Vilas, Price Counties. It has a maximum depth of 12 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, walleye are abundant in the lake while muskie, northern pike and panfish are considered common. Largemouth bass are listed as present here.
Land O’Lakes, WI
Big Lake
Big Lake is a 780 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 30 feet. Fish include muskie, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, walleye are abundant in the lake while muskie, northern pike, smallmouth bass and panfish are considered common in the lake. Largemouth bass are listed as present.
Black Oak Lake
Black Oak Lake is a 564 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 85 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include trout, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, panfish are abundant in this lake. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike are common in the lake. Trout and walleye are listed as present. The lake’s water clarity is very clear.
Lac Vieux Desert
Lac Vieux Desert is a 4,017 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 38 feet. There are multiple public boat landings with a variety of fish such as walleye, muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. It is a good fishing lake with all species of fish listed as common in the lake according to the DNR.
Landing Lake
Landing Lake is a 203 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 23 feet. Fish include largemouth bass, northern pike and panfish. According to the DNR, northern pike and panfish are considered common in the lake while largemouth bass are listed as present.
Palmer Lake
Palmer Lake is a 644 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 13 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake while smallmouth bass are listed as present.
Sanborn Lake
Sanborn Lake is a 243 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 13 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, northern pike are abundant in the lake. Panfish are considered common while largemouth bass are listed as present.
Manitowish Waters, WI
Manitowish Chain of Lakes
The Manitowish Chain of Lakes consists of 10 lakes that offers some excellent fishing for a variety of fish. Anglers come here to target northern pike, muskie, walleye, bass and panfish. This chain is a little farther north than Minocqua, but well worth the drive if you’re looking for good fishing with smaller crowds.
Learn more about the Manitowish Chain of Lakes
Other Area Lakes
Island Lake
Island Lake is a 865 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 35 feet. Fish include muskie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, northern pike, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake while largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are listed as present.
Rest Lake
Rest Lake is a 655 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 53 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, northern pike, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake while largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are listed as present.
Spider Lake
Spider Lake is a 278 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 43 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, northern pike, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake while largemouth and smallmouth bass are listed as present.
Presque Isle, WI
Stateline Lake
Stateline Lake is a 205 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 67 feet. Fish include northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, northern pike and panfish are common in this lake. Largemouth bass are listed as present and smallmouth bass are not even listed as a species of fish in this lake according to the WI DNR, but some anglers do report that some smallmouth bass are in this lake too.
Sayner & Star Lake, WI
Ballard Lake
Ballard Lake is a 503 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 25 feet with moderately clear water. Fish include muskie, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass and panfish.
Razorback Lake
Razorback Lake is a 381 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 35 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake while muskie are listed as present.
St. Germain, WI
Big St. Germain Lake
Big Saint Germain Lake is a 1622 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 42 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from one public boat landing. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, muskie, northern pike, walleye and panfish are common in this lake. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are listed as present. The lake’s water is moderately clear.
Found Lake
Found Lake is a 336 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 21 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from one public boat landing. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, panfish are abundant in this lake and the other species of fish are listed as common.
Lake Content
Lake Content is a 239 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 42 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, panfish and northern pike are abundant in this lake. Walleye are listed as common. Muskie and largemouth bass are listed as present.
Little St. Germain Lake
Little Saint Germain Lake is a 972 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 53 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, northern pike are abundant in this lake. Muskie, walleye, largemouth bass and panfish are common in this lake. Smallmouth bass are considered present.
Rainbow Flowage
Rainbow Flowage is actually located in Oneida County, but is super close to St. Germain and it is definitely a body of water than anglers fish when visiting St. Germain, Wisconsin. Rainbow Flowage covers 3,153 acres and has a maximum depth of 28 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from 5 public boat landings. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, panfish are abundant on the flowage. Northern pike and walleye are listed as common. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are listed as present.
