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

• Overview

  Plymouth Lake lies in Vilas County, Wisconsin. It sits in pine and birch country. At 15 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Vilas County. Eagle River sits 15 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The big place round here is Green Bay, 115 miles distant. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Plymouth Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Open biodiversity records for Vilas County list bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass. The county list is broader than any single water. On Plymouth Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 65°F, with January the cold end at about 9°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Time your trip to Plymouth Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Secret Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Plymouth Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.