There are so many good places to fish in Vilas County for so many different types of fish. There are some bigger bodies of water here that have a lot more potential than the smaller lakes, however, there are so many smaller lakes here that you can easily find some awesome fishing on those lakes as well.
Our Vilas County, WI section is a huge section, so there are a few different ways you may want to explore to learn about this area.
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View By Town
We have a page with the towns of Vilas County with a map as well so you can get a better idea of what this county has to offer.
Chain of Lakes
There are some very popular “chain of lakes” in Vilas County. Some of the more popular resorts, restaurants and fishing lakes are attached to a chain of lakes. Explore the larger chain of lakes up here.
Cisco Chain of Lakes
The Cisco Chain of Lakes is located along the Wisconsin/Michigan border, west of Land o’ Lakes and North of Highway B. The scenic Cisco Chain of Lakes are spring-fed and these lakes are known as good fishing lakes for a variety of fish. Many anglers come here to target muskie and walleye, but you can also catch northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and a variety of panfish.
Learn more about the Cisco Chain of Lakes
Eagle River Chain of Lakes
The Eagle River Chain Of Lakes consists of 9 lakes that total nearly 3,600 acres of water. This area has plenty of resorts & lodges, cabins and cottages to go along with excellent fishing resources to help you put more fish in the boat. There are numerous bait shops and fishing guides that offer plenty of their local knowledge to help you on your fishing trip. The fishing is very good on the chain of lakes for walleye and muskie. Anglers also target crappie, perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass and bluegill.
Learn more about the Eagle River Chain of Lakes
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. Fishing is good for a variety of species. Anglers target walleye, muskie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and panfish.
Learn more about the Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes
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
Presque Isle Chain of Lakes
The Presque Isle Chain of Lakes is a small chain of 3 lakes that offer some good fishing for a variety of fish. Anglers target muskie, northern pike, smallmouth bass and panfish here. The 3 lakes are Presque Isle, Van Vliet Lake and Averill.
Learn more about the Presque Isle Chain of Lakes
Turtle Chain of Lakes
The Turtle Lake Chain is a small chain of 3 lakes that are located in the town of Winchester, Wisconsin. The lakes offer good fishing for a variety of fish such as northern pike, muskie, bass, walleye and panfish.
Learn more about the Turtle Chain of Lakes
Big Lakes
If you are looking for some of the bigger lakes that offer better trophy potential, we have a list below to help you find what you’re looking for. Below, you will find information on the lakes that are around 1,000 surface acres or larger. There are plenty of good-sized lakes that aren’t quite this big, so if you’re looking to find information on those lakes, you can check out the towns of Vilas County page to learn more. For the biggest lakes in the area, stay on this page and keep scrolling down.
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.
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.
Fence Lake
Fence Lake is part of the Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes. It is a 3,483 acre lake with a maximum depth of 86 feet. Fish include muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, trout and walleye. According to the DNR, muskie, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake. Largemouth bass and trout are listed as present.
North Twin Lake
Twin Lakes (North) is a 2,871 acre lake located in Vilas County. Visitors have access to these lakes from 2 public boat landings. North Twin Lake has been known as one of the better muskie lakes to fish in Vilas County for many years. Big fish can be found in this lake if you put in the time.
Other fish include panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye. The Wisconsin DNR lists muskie, panfish and walleye as common in this lake. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are listed as present.
North Twin Lake WI DNR Lake Page
Big St. Germain Lake
Big Saint Germain Lake is a 1,622 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.
Crawling Stone Lake
Crawling Stone Lake is part of the Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes. It is a 1,483 acre lake with a maximum depth of 87 feet. Fish include muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. The water is very clear as well. According to the DNR, panfish and walleye are common in the lake. Muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are listed as present in the lake.
Big Sand Lake
Big Sand Lake is a 1,427 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 56 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, panfish are abundant in the lake while muskie, smallmouth bass and walleye are considered common. Largemouth bass and northern pike are listed as present.
Ike Walton Lake
Ike Walton Lake is a 1,417 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 61 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, all fish species are listed as present.
Squirrel Lake
Squirrel Lake is a 1,309 acre lake located in Vilas, Oneida Counties. It has a maximum depth of 46 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and and panfish are common in the lake. Northern pike are listed as present.
Star Lake
Star Lake is a 1,219 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 68 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike are listed as present.
White Sand Lake
White Sand Lake is a 1,181 acre lake located near the town of Lac du Flambeau in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 63 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, muskie and walleye are common in this lake. Northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish are listed as present.
Flambeau Lake
Flambeau Lake is part of the Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes. It covers 1,166 acres and has a maximum depth of 78 feet. This lake has very clear water. Fish include muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish are considered common in the lake while northern pike are listed as present.
Presque Isle Lake
Presque Isle Lake is part of the Presque Isle Chain of Lakes. Presque Isle is an 1,165 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 103 feet with very clear water. Fish include muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. According to the DNR, muskie and walleye are considered common in the lake. The other species of fish are listed as present.
Big Arbor Vitae Lake
Big Arbor Vitae Lake is a 1,070 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 41 feet. Fish include muskie, largemouth bass, walleye, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie and walleye are abundant in the lake while panfish and largemouth bass are considered common.
Plum Lake
Plum Lake is a 1,057 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 57 feet with moderately clear water. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake while largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike are listed as present.
Pokegama Lake
Pokegama Lake is part of the Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes. It is an 1,041 acre lake with a maximum depth of 65 feet. Fish include muskie, panfish, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. According to the DNR, walleye, northern pike and panfish are considered common in the lake while the other species of fish are considered present.
Little Trout Lake
Little Trout Lake is a 1,007 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 98 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, smallmouth bass and walleye are considered common in the lake. Largemouth bass, trout and panfish 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.
Other Lakes – View by Town
We cover most of the lakes that are 150 surface acres and larger. You will see information on these lakes listed by the town they are closest to. Take a look at the following towns to learn about the awesome lakes to fish in Vilas County.
Arbor Vitae, WI
Boulder Junction, WI
Conover & Phelps, WI
Eagle River, WI
Lac du Flambeau, WI
Land O’ Lakes, WI
Manitowish Waters, WI
Presque Isle, WI
Sayner & Star Lake, WI
St. Germain, WI
Winchester, WI
Smaller Lakes
These smaller lakes can be hit or miss, so you may have to fish a few of these lakes to find excellent fishing, but many of them do offer good fishing for bass and panfish. You may find some solid fishing for pike with some walleye, muskie and even trout in some lakes also. To help shorten the learning curve, take a look at the Vilas County, WI lake finder page to seek out these smaller lakes.
Rivers
Vilas County is known more for its lakes than its river fishing, but you do have some nice river options here too.
