Palmer Lake Fishing Guide, Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Palmer Lake is a Vilas County water, in Wisconsin. Country round the bank runs to mixed forest. At some 641 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. There is roughly 5.7 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. It ranks high for size among our Vilas County listings. Eagle River sits 23 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 137 miles to Green Bay, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Palmer Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Palmer Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in July and bottom out at 9°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late April. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. On Palmer Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Cochran Lake, 1.1 miles out. Check the position on Palmer Lake before loading the car.