Fishing at Decker Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  You will find Decker Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Land around it is mixed forest. Surface area runs to about 16 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Vilas County. Eagle River lies 11 miles from the water. Further out sit Lac du Flambeau (25 miles) and Rhinelander (28 miles). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Decker Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on 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. Species logged across Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Decker Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 65°F and January near 9°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly late November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It holds true on Decker Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Vilas County Forest- Decker Lake Unit runs up to the bank here, which usually means extra restrictions. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Langley Lake, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing here settles the position at Decker Lake for certain.