Little Oxbow Lake in Vilas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Vilas County entry here is Little Oxbow Lake, in Wisconsin. It stands 1,673 feet above sea level. With some 100 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. About 2.4 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Wisconsin listings. Wakefield at 20 miles is the nearest place to stop. Green Bay is the closest city, 144 miles away. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Little Oxbow Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Vilas County: bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Little Oxbow Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 10°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Anyone fishing Little Oxbow Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is a ramp at Little Oxbow Lake Boat Launch, half a mile out. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Reynolds Lake at 0.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Little Oxbow Lake before loading the car.