Fishing David Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Vilas County in Wisconsin is where David Lake sits. The surroundings are mixed forest. It covers about 24 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. There is roughly 0.9 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. The closest town, Lac du Flambeau, is 5.5 miles away. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 130 miles away. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on David Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Vilas County, recorded fish include bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At David Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 66°F, the coldest about 9°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. David Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A nature reserve borders this water, which usually brings restrictions. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Lucy Lake, 0.2 miles away. Ask locally about David Lake if anything is unclear.