Fishing Big Donahue Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  You will find Big Donahue Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. The water sits 1,709 feet up. Roughly 92 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. With about 1.4 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Compared with other Wisconsin water on our list, it sits high. Eagle River lies 18 miles from the water. Beyond it, Lac du Flambeau at 31 miles and Iron River at 33 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Big Donahue Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Species logged across Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Big Donahue Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 9°F in January up to 65°F in July. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late April. Climate figures give an open season running late April to late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. On Big Donahue Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Black Oak Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing on Big Donahue Lake should be assumed from this page alone.