The Land O’Lakes area is home to some incredible fishing. There are so many lakes in this area and many of them have good fishing for something. If you’re looking for smallmouth bass, there are so many lakes where you can catch them, but some lakes definitely have higher populations of them. Big Bateau Lake and Jute Lake are smaller lakes that offer solid fishing for smallmouth bass. There are some bigger lakes here as well that offer good smallmouth bass fishing, but they aren’t so big that you will find yourself totally overwhelmed trying to learn the lake. Black Oak Lake & Big Portage Lake are under 600 acres & Big Lake is 780 acres. These lakes all offer potential for numbers and quality fish and will have less fishing pressure than some of the popular lakes that you will find in the Minocqua area.
Big Bateau Lake
Big Bateau Lake is a 236 acre lake located in Vilas County and Gogebic County. Fish include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the Wisconsin DNR, smallmouth bass and panfish are common in this lake. Largemouth bass are listed as present.
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.
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.
Jute Lake
Jute Lake is a 191 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 23 feet. Fish include muskie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish. According to the DNR, smallmouth bass and panfish are considered common in the lake while muskie and largemouth bass are listed as present.
