Fishing Perch Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Set in Vilas County, Perch Lake is a Wisconsin water. It lies 1,617 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 32 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The edge runs 1.1 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The nearest place of any size is Eagle River, 3.7 miles away. Rhinelander lies 20 miles off, Lac du Flambeau another 28 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Perch Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Reported across Vilas County: bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Perch Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 65°F and January near 9°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. The season between ice runs from about mid April to late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. It holds true on Perch Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Seneca Lake is 0.7 miles distant. Confirm access to Perch Lake locally before you travel.