Eagle River, Wisconsin is a top destination in the Northwoods, known for its stunning scenery, abundant wildlife, and world-class fishing. With dozens of lakes and miles of trout streams, it’s a paradise for anglers who return year after year. The Eagle River Chain of Lakes is the star attraction, but countless surrounding lakes offer even more incredible fishing opportunities. Whether you’re after muskie, walleye, smallmouth or largemouth bass, northern pike, trout, or panfish — Eagle River delivers. Add in plenty of cozy accommodations, great restaurants, and local shops, and you’ve got the perfect Northwoods getaway.
View by Species of Fish
Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskie, LM Bass, SM Bass
Area Waters
Eagle River Chain of Lakes
The Eagle River Chain of Lakes is made up of 9 connected lakes spanning nearly 3,600 acres of water, offering one of the best multi-lake fishing experiences in Wisconsin. With a wide range of resorts, lodges, cabins, and cottages, it’s easy to find the perfect place to stay right on the water. Anglers benefit from numerous local bait shops and experienced fishing guides, all ready to help you make the most of your time on the chain.
Fishing here is especially strong for walleye and muskie, but you’ll also find great action for crappie, perch, smallmouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, and bluegill.
The 9 lakes of the 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 scenic 377-acre lake located in Vilas County, Wisconsin, with a maximum depth of 32 feet and moderately clear water. It offers a quiet, natural setting and a mix of fishing opportunities. According to the Wisconsin DNR, walleye are common, while smallmouth bass, northern pike, and various panfish are also present in the lake.
Anglers targeting walleye in Anvil Lake should consider fishing during low-light conditions, such as dawn or dusk, and utilize techniques like trolling with crankbaits or jigging with a variety of live baits. For northern pike, casting large spinnerbaits or using live bait near weed beds can be effective. Smallmouth bass often inhabit rocky structures; using soft plastics or crankbaits along these areas can yield good results. Panfish are available and can be caught using small jigs tipped with worms or minnows.
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.
Luna & White Deer Lake
Luna Lake is a 64 acre lake located in Forest County. It has a maximum depth of 35 feet. It is “no motor lake” so bring your small watercraft if you want to come here to fish for largemouth bass and panfish. It is a good largemouth bass lake for numbers with some quality fish too.
White Deer Lake is a 62 acre lake located in Forest County. It has a maximum depth of 50 feet. It is “no motor lake” so bring your small watercraft if you want to come here to fish for largemouth bass, trout and panfish. This lake’s clear waters are also very deep. Many anglers report good success here by using lighter line with finesse tactics for largemouth bass.
Three Johns Lake & McKinley Lake
Three Johns Lake is a 48 acre lake located in Forest County. It has a maximum depth of 42 feet. It is “no motor lake” so bring your small watercraft if you want to come here to fish for largemouth bass and panfish. It is a good largemouth bass lake for numbers with some quality fish too.
McKinley Lake is a 48 acre lake located in Forest County. It has a maximum depth of 20 feet. It is located close to Three Johns Lake and Butternut Lake. McKinley Lake is a decent largemouth bass lake with some panfish too. It is “no motor lake” so bring your small watercraft.
Spectacle Lake
Spectacle Lake is a 166 acre lake located in Nicolet National Forest of Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 35 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, trout and walleye. The lake’s water clarity is very clear. This lake is uncrowded and it is known as a good bass fishing lake for both largemouth & smallmouth bass.
Other Area Lakes
Bass Lake
Bass Lake is a 272 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 15 feet with moderately clear water. Fish include muskie, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye and panfish. According to the DNR, largemouth bass and panfish are considered common in the lake. Muskie, northern pike and walleye are listed as present.
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.
Lower Ninemile Lake
Lower Ninemile Lake is a 849 acre lake located in the Nicolet National Forest of Vilas County. This lake is very shallow with a maximum depth of 5 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include muskie, largemouth bass, northern pike, and walleye, but don’t expect to catch a lot of big fish in this lake with all the shallow water.
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, northern pike, 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.
Upper Ninemile Lake
Upper Ninemile Lake is a 108 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 5 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing, public lands or parks. Fish include panfish, largemouth bass and northern pike, but don’t expect to catch too many big fish because of the shallow water.
