Kathan Lake Fishing near Eagle River, Wisconsin

• Overview

  In Wisconsin, Kathan Lake falls inside Vilas County. It stands 1,627 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 214 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The shoreline runs about 3.2 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Size puts it in the front rank of our Vilas County list. Eagle River is the closest place, 4.8 miles off. For a city, Green Bay is 113 miles off. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Kathan Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Open biodiversity records for Vilas County list bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Kathan Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 65°F, with January the cold end at about 9°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about late November in an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Expect Kathan Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Arbutus Lake, 0.7 miles out. Where Kathan Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.