Fishing Oberlin Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Oberlin Lake is one of the Vilas County waters in Wisconsin. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. It runs to roughly 43 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. About 1.5 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Wisconsin listings. The closest town, Lac du Flambeau, is 14 miles distant. The big place round here is Green Bay, 125 miles distant. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Oberlin Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Vilas County: bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Fish Oberlin Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 9°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and late November closes it again. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan any trip to Oberlin Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. A campsite is mapped about 90 yards away, which makes an early start easier. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Smith Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Oberlin Lake if anything is unclear.