Fishing at Chickaree Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Chickaree Lake is one of the Vilas County waters in Wisconsin. Height above sea level is 1,604 feet. At about 29 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Eagle River at 5.5 miles is the nearest place to stop. Rhinelander follows at 19 miles, then Lac du Flambeau at 26 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Chickaree Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Vilas County, recorded fish include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Take Chickaree Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 66°F and January at 9°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. Ice clears near mid April and comes back about late November in a typical year. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Expect Chickaree Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Andrew Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Chickaree Lake is worth confirming on the day.