Fishing Gretchen Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Gretchen Lake lies in Vilas County, in Wisconsin. This is pine and birch country. At roughly 21 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It sits higher than most water we list in Wisconsin. Start from Wakefield, 13 miles down the road. Thunder Bay sits 148 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Gretchen Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. The near bank of Gretchen Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 10°F in January and 65°F in July. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. On Gretchen Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Chaney Lake Boat Launch sits about half a mile away and carries the launch. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Lake Franchian, 0.2 miles out. Check the position at Gretchen Lake before loading the car.