Richard Lake Fishing in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Within Vilas County, Wisconsin, you have Richard Lake. Around the bank it is rolling bush. At roughly 19 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Most waters listed here for Vilas County are larger. The nearest town is Wakefield, 23 miles away. Lac du Flambeau lies 24 miles off, Bessemer another 27 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Richard Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Richard Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 65°F and January near 9°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Richard Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Launching is at Moosehead Lake Boat Launch, about half a mile away. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Twilight Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat Richard Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.