Bug Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Bug Lake sits within Vilas County in Wisconsin. Everything around it is mixed forest. Small at around 20 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. For supplies, Lac du Flambeau is 12 miles out. Eagle River is 20 miles and Rhinelander 24 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive. The country round the bank is quiet, with little traffic on the road in.

• Where to Fish on Bug Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Vilas County cover bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Bug Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 65°F; by January the average is down near 9°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Bug Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Hurrah Lake is 0.6 miles off. Check the position on Bug Lake before loading the car.