George Lake in Vilas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Vilas County end of Wisconsin holds George Lake. It sits at 1,713 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 13 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Vilas County. Eagle River at 17 miles is the nearest place to stop. The big place round here is Green Bay, 129 miles distant. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on George Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On George 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. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late April. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. It sets the rhythm of the year at George Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Ethel Lake, 0.4 miles away. Where George Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.