Frank Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Frank Lake is a Vilas County water, Wisconsin side. It stands 1,647 feet above sea level. The water covers some 147 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 2.5 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It is high ground by Wisconsin standards. Lac du Flambeau is the closest town at 17 miles. Beyond it, Eagle River at 17 miles and Rhinelander at 28 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Frank Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Vilas County records list bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Fish Frank Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 65°F, while January sits near 9°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late April and starts locking again about late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan around that when you fish Frank Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Aurora Lake State Natural Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. 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. Starrett Lake at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. Rules at Frank Lake are worth checking on the day.