Vilas County used to be known as an awesome vacation destination for walleye fishing. It definitely isn’t what it used to be in the past. Currently, many of the lakes are going through some issues with natural reproduction and stocking efforts combined with special regulations are in place to help some of these waters get back to awesome walleye lakes. While we wait to see how those stocking efforts go, anglers will catch less walleye on many lakes where walleye fishing used to be very good. On a positive note, there are still plenty of lakes that offer good walleye fishing with the addition of some excellent bass fishing. With the bass fishing getting much better over the last 10 years, walleye anglers will end up catching more bass while targeting walleye on many lakes. If you’re fishing deeper water rocks, plan on catching more smallmouth bass than you may have in the past while you fish for your limit of walleye. If you’re fishing the weeds, plan on catching a lot more largemouth bass mixed in with the walleye.
Below, we have it organized by towns to help you learn about the entire county’s best walleye waters.
Arbor Vitae, WI
Arbor Vitae is a small town, so there aren’t as many lakes here, but there are some walleye available. Big Arbor Vitae Lake is a good lake to fish for walleye. The bass numbers have taken off here, so plan on catching plenty of bass, especially if you fish for walleye along the weedlines. Most anglers that come to this area to fish for walleye will usually stay on Big Arbor, but you can also catch some walleye in Little Arbor Lake and Sparkling Lake. Some of the other lakes will have walleye, but in low numbers.
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.
Little Arbor Vitae Lake
Little Arbor Vitae Lake is a 480 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 32 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, largemouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, all these species of fish are considered common in the lake.
Sparkling Lake
Sparkling Lake is a 157 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 60 feet. Fish include muskie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye and smallmouth bass are considered common in the lake. Largemouth bass and panfish are listed as present.
Boulder Junction, WI
Boulder Junction is home to some very good walleye fishing. Whether you choose to fish the special regulation lakes in the Northern Highlands Fishery Research area or some of the other lakes up here, you can find good numbers of walleye with an occasional big fish too.
In the fishery research area, anglers can catch lots of walleye on Escanaba Lake, however, with the special regulations on that lake, you won’t be able to eat any walleye unless you decide to keep a really big fish. You can keep 1 walleye per angler per day, but it has to be 28 inches long. This has helped create more of an action fishery for walleye with lots of smaller walleye and some big fish.
There are so many lakes to fish outside of the research area as well. You may have to put some time in to catch good numbers of walleye on many of these lakes, but they are definitely worth fishing for walleye. If you fish the peak periods of the day for walleye, you should be able to catch some fish on so many different lakes up here.
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.
Escanaba Lake
Escanaba Lake is a 303 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 26 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, walleye are abundant in this lake. Muskie, largemouth bass and panfish are considered common in the lake. Northern pike are listed as present. The DNR website doesn’t mention smallmouth bass, but they are in Escanaba Lake as well.
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.
Boulder Lake
Boulder Lake is a 516 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 23 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from 2 public boat landings. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, walleye are abundant in this lake. Muskie and panfish are considered common in the lake. Northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are listed as present.
Fishtrap Lake
Fishtrap Lake is a 339 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 34 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, muskie, walleye, largemouth bass and panfish are common in this lake. Smallmouth bass and northern pike are listed as present. The lake’s water is moderately clear.
High Lake
High Lake is a 741 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 36 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, walleye and panfish are common in this lake. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike are listed as present. The lake’s water is moderately clear.
Jag Lake
Jag Lake is a 162 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 27 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include muskie, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, walleye and panfish are common in the lake. Muskie, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are listed as present.
Little Crooked Lake
Little Crooked Lake is a 154 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 30 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, muskie, walleye and panfish are common in this lake. Largemouth bass and northern pike are listed as present. The lake’s water clarity is low.
Little John Lake
Little John Lake is a 151 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 19 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and trout. According to the Wisconsin DNR, trout are abundant in Little John Lake. Muskie, walleye and largemouth bass are common in the lake. Smallmouth bass and northern pike are listed as present.
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.
Upper Gresham Lake
Upper Gresham Lake is a 362 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 32 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, largemouth bass and walleye are considered common. Northern pike are listed as present.
White Sand Lake
White Sand Lake is a 746 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 71 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, walleye and smallmouth bass are common in this lake. Northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish are listed as present.
Wolf Lake
Wolf Lake is a 403 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 28 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye, largemouth bass and panfish are considered common in the lake while smallmouth bass are listed as present.
Conover & Phelps, WI
The Conover area has several lakes with walleye available in them. The bigger lakes in this area support healthy populations of walleye. Whether you fish North Twin Lake, Big Sand Lake, Long Lake or the Buckatabon Lakes, if you put in the time to learn the lakes, you can catch some walleye here. You will run into an occasional big fish as well on the bigger lakes. If you’re looking for a little more action, you can also try The Eagle River Chain of Lakes, which is just a short car ride to the south. The chain has good numbers of walleye in its numerous lakes.
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.
Hunter Lake
Hunter Lake is a 175 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 40 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from one public boat landing. Fish include panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye. Panfish, largemouth bass and walleye are considered common in this lake and smallmouth bass are listed as present according to the Wisconsin DNR.
Long Lake
Long Lake is a 886 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 88 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout and panfish. According to the DNR, smallmouth bass and walleye are considered common in the lake while all the other species of fish are listed as present.
North & South Twin Lakes
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.
Twin Lakes (South) is a 628 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 43 feet with very clear water. Visitors have access to the lake from public boat landings. Fish include muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake while the other species of fish are listed as 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
Most of the better lakes in the Eagle River area will have catchable populations of walleye. The walleye fishing can definitely be hit or miss up here depending on the lake you are fishing and the time of year, but if you’re looking to catch some walleye, you should be able to do it here. The Eagle River Chain of Lakes gets the most attention among the walleye anglers here since there is so much water to fish and good numbers of fish available. The chain does get a lot of fishing pressure, so the summer fishing can be a lot more difficult than the spring or fall, but if you know how to fish weed-oriented walleye, you can do good on the chain.
The other lakes you are going to find off the chain will be smaller lakes for the most part. Butternut Lake is a pretty good-sized lake, but is way better for smallmouth bass than walleye, however, walleye are in there. With the smaller lakes, the potential for bigger numbers and quality fish goes way down, but there are fishable populations for walleye in many of the lakes off the chain. Since the bass fishing has taken off over the last 10 years or so, plan on catching lots of bass in the smaller lakes with some walleye mixed in if you target them.
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, northern pike, rock bass and bluegill. The 9 lakes of the Eagle River Chain are: Catfish Lake, Cranberry Lake, Duck Lake, Eagle Lake, Lynx Lake, Otter Lake, Scattering Rice Lake, Voyageur Lake, Watersmeet Lake and Yellow Birch Lake.
Learn more about the Eagle River Chain of Lakes
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Lakes
Anvil Lake
Anvil Lake is a 377 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 32 feet with moderately clear water. Fish include smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye and panfish. According to the DNR, walleye are common in the lake while the other species of fish are listed as present.
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.
Kentuck Lake
Kentuck Lake is a 1001 acre lake located in Vilas, Forest Counties. It has a maximum depth of 40 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from public boat landings. Fish include muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye. According to the DNR, muskie, panfish, smallmouth bass and walleye are common in the lake. Largemouth bass are considered present.
Other Area Lakes
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.
Carpenter Lake
Carpenter Lake is a 339 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 16 feet. Fish include panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. Walleye and panfish are listed as common and the other species of fish are only list as present according to the Wisconsin DNR. The lake’s water is moderately clear.
Deerskin Lake
Deerskin Lake is a 301 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 18 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from 2 public boat landings. Fish include muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. Muskie, walleye and largemouth bass are listed as common on this lake according to the Wisconsin DNR with panfish being abundant. This lake also has a reputation for small northern pike to along with some good sized ones. The lake’s water is moderately clear.
Meta Lake
Meta Lake is a 175 acre lake located in Oneida, Vilas Counties. It has a maximum depth of 25 feet. Fish include walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, walleye are considered common in the lake while the other species of fish are listed as present.
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.
Snipe Lake
Snipe Lake is a 216 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 15 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake. Largemouth bass are listed as present. The lake has moderately clear water.
Lac du Flambeau
The Lac du Flambeau area provides anglers with a lot of options for targeting walleye. Most anglers that come here will just stay on the Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes, which is probably your best bet if you want to cover a lot of water and up your odds of catching better numbers of walleye with some quality fish too. Don’t rule out the other lakes in this area though because a lot of the smaller lakes still offer a good chance to catch some walleye if you put in the time and learn the 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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sugarbush Chain of Lakes
This smaller chain of lakes is often overlooked by the nearby Lac du Flambeau Chain of Lakes. If you are in this area though, this smaller chain does offer some solid fishing opportunities for a variety of fish with less fishing pressure. Access is easier with smaller portable boats such as canoes, kayaks, rowboats or inflatables.
Upper Sugarbush Lake
Upper Sugarbush Lake is a 141 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 29 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie and walleye are considered common in the lake. Northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish are listed as present.
Middle Sugarbush Lake
Middle Sugarbush Lake is a 254 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 57 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, all species of fish are listed as present in this lake.
Lower Sugarbush Lake
Lower Sugarbush Lake is a 180 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 61 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, all the fish in this lake 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.
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.
Land O’Lakes, WI
The Land O’Lakes area has so many lakes to fish and many of them are good walleye lakes. Lac Vieux Desert gets most of the attention in this area from walleye anglers. Like many of the walleye lakes in northern Wisconsin, the bass fishing has taken off and lots of lakes are having issues with natural reproduction. Stocking has been taking place on Lac Vieux Desert to help get it back to where it used to be. While there is still a fishable population of walleye and some very big walleye, it is not what is used to be in the past. It is a large lake with good fishing for a variety of fish, so even if the walleye bite is slow, the bass, pike and panfish should keep you busy.
On many of the other lakes in this area, you have some good options for walleye fishing. On the smaller lakes with walleye, plan on catching some bass and panfish while targeting walleye. The bass fishing has gotten a lot better, especially on the smaller lakes, over the last 10 years or so.
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.
Big Portage Lake
Big Portage Lake is a 586 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 40 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, smallmouth bass and walleye are common in this lake. Largemouth bass and panfish are listed as present. The lake’s water clarity is very clear.
Forest Lake
Forest Lake is a 468 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 60 feet with very clear water. Fish include northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake while the other species of fish are listed as present.
High Lake
High Lake is a 741 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 36 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, walleye and panfish are common in this lake. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike are listed as present. The lake’s water is moderately 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.
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.
Tenderfoot Lake
Tenderfoot Lake is a 437 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 33 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye, smallmouth bass and panfish are common in the lake. Largemouth bass and northern pike are listed as present.
Manitowish Waters, WI
Manitowish Waters has always been known for having a good walleye fishery. Years ago, the Manitowish Chain of Lakes had great natural reproduction in its lakes for walleye, but that hasn’t been the case recently, so stocking has been essential to help boost the numbers in its lakes. The chain still gets the most attention here among walleye anglers. If you put in the time to learn the lakes and you fish the the mornings and evenings, you can still catch walleye here with an occasional big fish too. The other area lakes will be smaller lakes, but there are still fishable populations of walleye in several of the other area lakes too. Just like most of northern Wisconsin, the bass fishing has taken off in many of the lakes up here, so on the smaller lakes, plan on catching plenty of bass while targeting walleye, especially if you are fishing along the weed lines.
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.
Little Star Lake
Little Star Lake is a 260 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 67 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie and walleye are considered common in the lake while the other species of fish are listed as 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.
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.
Wild Rice Lake
Wild Rice Lake is a 384 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 26 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 while northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are listed as present.
Presque Isle, WI
Presque Isle, WI is loaded with lakes and there are good numbers of walleye in many of the bigger lakes in this area. There aren’t too many lakes in the area that will put out monster-sized walleye, but there are definitely some trophy fish here to go along with some very good action 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
Other Lakes
Annabelle Lake
Annabelle Lake is a 194 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 30 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include walleye, muskie, northern pike, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, muskie, walleye and panfish are common in this lake. Smallmouth bass and northern pike are listed as present. The lake’s water is moderately clear.
Armour Lake
Armour Lake is a 328 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 56 feet. Fish include walleye, muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, walleye and panfish are common in this lake. All of the other species of fish are listed as present.
Big Lake
Big Lake is a 827 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 61 feet with moderately clear water. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, smallmouth bass, walleye and panfish are considered common while largemouth bass and northern pike are listed as present.
Crab Lake
Crab Lake is a 909 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 60 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include walleye, muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. It’s a very good numbers lake for smallmouth bass with some big smallies here too. Fish the rocky points, shorelines and islands and you’ll find plenty of smallmouth bass willing to bite. There is also some decent muskie fishing here too with some big fish available as well.
Horsehead Lake
Horsehead Lake is a 250 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 24 feet and there is one public boat landing. Fish include muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. The lake has moderately clear water. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye and panfish are common in this lake. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and northern pike are considered present.
Lynx Lake
Lynx Lake is a 307 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 48 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include walleye, muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, muskie, walleye and smallmouth bass are common in this lake. Largemouth bass, northern pike and panfish are listed as present.
Oxbow Lake
Oxbow Lake is a 523 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 44 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include walleye, muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, walleye are common in this lake and all of the other species of fish are listed as present.
Papoose Lake
Papoose Lake is a 422 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 65 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include walleye, muskie, 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. The lake’s water clarity is very clear.
Round Lake
Round Lake is a 173 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 25 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include walleye, muskie, largemouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, muskie, largemouth bass, walleye and panfish are common in this lake.
Wildcat Lake
Wildcat Lake is a 293 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 38 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include muskie, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, muskie, walleye, smallmouth bass and panfish are considered common in this lake. Largemouth bass are listed as present. The lake’s water is moderately clear.
Sayner & Star Lake, WI
Many of the larger lakes in the Sayner area are home to some solid walleye fishing. Some of the smaller lakes do have some walleye available as well, but don’t expect to find as good of fishing for walleye in the smaller lakes. Many of the walleye that you will catch will be eater-sized with some bigger fish in the low 20 inch range mixed in. Fish in the mid-20 inch range are possible on some of the bigger lakes.
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.
Big Muskellunge Lake
Big Muskellunge Lake is a 897 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 70 feet. Fish include muskie, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, largemouth bass, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake. Northern pike and smallmouth bass are listed as present.
Lake Laura
Lake Laura is a 628 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 43 feet. Fish include muskie, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie and walleye are considered common in the lake while largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish are listed as present.
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.
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.
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.
St. Germain, WI
St. Germain has several quality lakes where you can target walleye. Most of the better lakes in town are similar in that they are known for being good multi-species lakes. While targeting walleye, you should be able to get some action from bass, panfish and northern pike too.
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.
Lost Lake
Lost Lake is a 539 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 20 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.
North Nokomis Lake
North Nokomis Lake is a 470 acre lake located in Oneida County. It has a maximum depth of 73 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from one public boat landing. Fish include walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, panfish, largemouth bass and walleye are common in this lake. Smallmouth bass and northern pike are listed as present.
Pickerel Lake
Pickerel Lake is a 270 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 26 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, muskie, panfish and walleye are common in this lake. Northern pike and largemouth bass are listed as present. The lake’s water clarity is low.
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.
Winchester, WI
Winchester is a small town with some very good fishing lakes. If you want to target walleye here, there are a few lakes that have always been solid for walleye. If you put in some time and learn the lakes, you can catch some walleye with an occasional bigger fish mixed in.
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.
North Turtle Lake
North Turtle Lake is a 359 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 58 feet with moderately clear water. Fish include muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and panfish. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake. The other species of fish are listed as present.
Rock Lake
Rock Lake is a 120 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 18 feet. Fish include muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, northern pike and walleye. According to the DNR, largemouth bass are abundant in the lake while panfish and walleye are considered common. Muskie and northern pike are listed as present.
South Turtle Lake
South Turtle Lake is a 466 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 40 feet. Fish include muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. According to the DNR, muskie, walleye and panfish are considered common in the lake. The other species of fish are listed as present.
Other Area Lakes
Birch Lake
Birch Lake is a 506 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 45 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include walleye, muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, muskie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and panfish are common in this lake. Northern pike are listed as present. The lake’s water is moderately clear.
Harris Lake
Harris Lake is a 534 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 57 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include walleye, muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, muskie, walleye and panfish are common in this lake. Northern pike, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are listed as present.
