Fishing Lake of the Hills in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Lake of the Hills is set in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Elevation runs to 1,621 feet. The water covers some 61 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 1.3 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. You are 4.6 miles from Eagle River. After that come Rhinelander at 25 miles and Iron River at 30 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake of the Hills

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Lake of the Hills gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 65°F and January near 9°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Lake of the Hills runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Adams Lake is 1.4 miles off. Signs at Lake of the Hills carry more weight than any list.