Annabelle Lake Fishing near Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Wisconsin holds Annabelle Lake, in Vilas County. Land around it is mixed forest. The water covers some 208 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Size puts it in the front rank of our Vilas County list. Lac du Flambeau is the closest place, 20 miles off. After that come Wakefield at 22 miles and Bessemer at 25 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Annabelle Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Vilas County records list bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass among the fish reported. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. The near bank of Annabelle Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 9°F in January and 65°F in July. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Expect the water usable from around late April until roughly late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Annabelle Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Belle Lake, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Annabelle Lake before loading the car.