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

• Overview

  Set in Vilas County, Wisconsin, this is Grant Lake. The country here is rolling bush. About 12 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Vilas County list. Supplies mean a trip to Wakefield, 15 miles off. Bessemer is 18 miles and Lac du Flambeau 21 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Grant Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Grant Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 10°F in January up to 65°F in July. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. In an average year the thaw lands around late April and the freeze near late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Grant Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Harris Lake is 1.1 miles distant. Treat access at Grant Lake as something to verify.