The Northwoods of Wisconsin is home to one of the highest concentrations of freshwater lakes on the planet, so there’s always somewhere to cast a line, whether you’re going after hard-fighting bass or elusive musky. Here’s a look at some of Vilas County’s best public-access fishing lakes.
Big Arbor Vitae Lake, Arbor Vitae
Size: 1,070 acres
Most abundant fish: Musky, walleye, panfish, largemouth bass
One of two lakes located along State Highway 70 (480-acre Little Arbor Vitae Lake sits on the south side of the highway a few steps away), Big Arbor Vitae lake offers healthy populations of musky and walleye and is also a great spot for panfish and largemouth. Boaters will find public launches on the north and south sides of the lake.
Trout Lake, Boulder Junction
Size: 3,864 acres
Most abundant fish: Musky, panfish, smallmouth bass, northern pike, trout
Located south of Boulder Junction, this massive lake is home to a rich fishery with healthy populations of musky, bass, pike, walleye, and trout (which aren’t easy to find in a lot of Northwoods lakes). Public boat landings are located at Ben Bendrick Drive and at campgrounds along County Highway M.
Upper Buckatabon Lake and Lower Buckatabon Lake, Conover
Size: 493 acres (Upper Buckatabon Lake), 378 acres (Lower Buckatabon Lake)
Most abundant fish: Panfish, musky, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye
These connected lakes south of County Highway K between Conover and Star Lake are popular spots for boating and fishing and well-known for their populations of panfish. Public access to Upper Buckatabon Lake can be found at a boat launch on East Buckatabon Road (there are also several resorts with lake access on Lower Buckatabon Lake).
Eagle River Chain of Lakes, Eagle River
Size: Varies; largest is Catfish Lake (1,012 acres)
Most abundant fish: Walleye, musky, panfish, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike
A can’t-miss spot for boaters and anglers alike, the Eagle River Chain connects to the Three Lakes Chain to the south to cover nearly 30 lakes, making it the largest freshwater chain of lakes in the world. The Eagle River portion includes 9 lakes that span nearly 3,000 acres (the largest, Catfish Lake, is more than 1,000 acres), with many access points along the route, including a boat landing on the western edge of Catfish Lake.
Fence Lake, Lac du Flambeau
Size: 3,483 acres
Most abundant fish: Musky, panfish, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye
Part of the 10-lake Lac du Flambeau Chain in southwestern Vilas County, Fence Lake is a popular fishery for musky, panfish, pike, and walleye, though largemouth bass and trout are present here as well. Fence Lake connects to Crawling Stone Lake to the west, where boaters and anglers can find access to Fence Lake and the rest of the chain.
Lac Vieux Desert, Land O’ Lakes
Size: 4,017 acres
Most abundant fish: Musky, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye
Straddling the border of Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula east of Land O’ Lakes, this large lake is the headwaters for the mighty Wisconsin River and also offers good fishing opportunities for panfish, bass, and walleye. A boat ramp can be found on the southeastern side of the lake near Thunder Bay Resort and carry-in access is available at Lac Vieux Desert Park on the southwest side of the lake.
Clear Lake, Manitowish Waters
Size: 515 acres
Most abundant fish: Musky, panfish, northern pike, walleye
Anglers enjoy the fishing opportunities for musky, pike, and walleye on this lake just east of Manitowish Waters on the western side of Vilas County. True to its name (and because it’s spring-fed), the water is remarkably clear. Public boat landings can be found at Haskins Road and off Clear Lake Road.
Lac Vieux Desert, Phelps
Size: 4,017 acres
Most abundant fish: Musky, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye
The largest lake in Vilas County (more than 4,000 acres!), Lac Vieux Desert straddles the border of Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and is the headwaters of the mighty Wisconsin River. A lake this big provides abundant fishing opportunities, and anglers will find strong populations of many species, including musky, bass, pike, and walleye.
Oxbow Lake, Presque Isle
Size: 523 acres
Most abundant fish: Walleye
This lake east of Presque Isle is aptly named—it’s got a lot of nooks and crannies in its 500-plus acres, making it a great place to cast your line for abundant walleye as well as musky, panfish, bass, and pike, which can also be found here. A public boat landing on the east side of the lake offers easy public access.
Plum Lake, Sayner-Star Lake-Cloverland
Size: 1,057 acres
Most abundant fish: Musky, panfish, walleye
Located between Sayner and Star Lake, Plum Lake is a great spot for fishing whether you’ve got a boat or not—several lodging properties offer easy access to the water, and the lake is also home to a public fishing pier.
Big St. Germain Lake, St. Germain
Size: 1,622 acres
Most abundant fish: Musky, panfish, northern pike, walleye
Located just west of St. Germain and north of State Highway 70, Big St. Germain Lake is a popular destination for musky and walleye, but pike and panfish are also prolific. Public access is via a boat launch on the north side of the lake. Note that there’s also a Little St. Germain Lake (972 acres) slightly to the east.
North Turtle Lake and South Turtle Lake, Winchester
Size: 466 acres (South Turtle Lake), 359 acres (North Turtle Lake)
Most abundant fish: Musky, panfish, walleye
These connected lakes in Winchester in northwestern Vilas County offer great opportunities for watersports and angling, especially for musky, panfish, and walleye. There are many lodging properties along the shores of these scenic lakes, and access is available on each of the lakes via public boat landings.
View our lakes listings or our lake grid to find public-access fishing lakes in Arbor Vitae, Boulder Junction, Conover, Eagle River, Lac du Flambeau, Land O’ Lakes, Manitowish Waters, Phelps, Sayner-Star Lake, Presque Isle, St. Germain, and Winchester.
