Fishing Loon Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  This water sits in Vilas County, Wisconsin. The bank gives way to pine and birch. It measures about 37 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Roughly 1.1 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Wisconsin listings. The town to know is Eagle River, 1.6 miles out. Further out sit Rhinelander (20 miles) and Crandon (27 miles). A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Loon Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Vilas County records list bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Anyone new to Loon Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 66°F, with January the cold end at about 10°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Plan around that when you fish Loon Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A protected area covers this ground, which usually means restrictions on access. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Gordon Lake, 0.9 miles away. Signs at Loon Lake carry more weight than any list.