Inkpot Lake Fishing near Eagle River, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Inkpot Lake stands in Vilas County, Wisconsin. The setting is pine and birch on every side. At roughly 12 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Most waters listed here for Vilas County are larger. Eagle River lies 19 miles from the water. It is 132 miles to Green Bay, the nearest city. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Inkpot Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Read Inkpot Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 9°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Inkpot Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Dollar Lake is 0.6 miles off. Signs at Inkpot Lake carry more weight than any list.