Patterson Lake Fishing in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Look for Patterson Lake in the Vilas County part of Wisconsin. The ground round it is pine and birch. This is a pocket water of some 17 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Vilas County standards. Head to Lac du Flambeau, 5 miles away, for anything you forgot. Then Park Falls, 28 miles, and Rhinelander, 28 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Patterson Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Survey and observation records for Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. The county list is broader than any single water. On Patterson Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 66°F in July and bottoms out near 9°F in January. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Climate figures give an open season running mid April to late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Patterson Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Havener Lake sits 0.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Patterson Lake.