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.
