Pincherry Lake in Vilas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Pincherry Lake is a Vilas County water, Wisconsin side. It stands 1,621 feet above sea level. It covers about 23 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Eagle River lies 8.9 miles from the water. Rhinelander lies 22 miles off, Lac du Flambeau another 23 miles. What else is close: Shannon Lake 0.8 miles, Beaver Lake within 0.9 miles, Mud Lake 1 mile, Found Lake within 1.6 miles and Pickerel Lake 1.9 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Pincherry Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Vilas County: bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Pincherry Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 65°F; the cold one sits at 9°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on Pincherry Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Shannon Lake, 0.8 miles out. Where Pincherry Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.