Mud Lake near Eagle River: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Vilas County end of Wisconsin holds Mud Lake. Height above sea level is 1,631 feet. It covers about 21 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. About 1.0 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. It is high ground by Wisconsin standards. Eagle River lies 6.6 miles from the water. Rhinelander follows at 24 miles, then Lac du Flambeau at 26 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. At Mud Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 65°F at the top of summer and 9°F at the bottom of winter. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Expect the water usable from around mid April until roughly late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mud Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, McLeod Lake is 0.4 miles distant. For Mud Lake in particular, ask before you travel.