Fishing Raven Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Raven Lake is a Vilas County water, Wisconsin side. The water sits 1,594 feet up. With some 40 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Shoreline comes to about 1.0 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Head to Lac du Flambeau, 1.9 miles away, for anything you forgot. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 135 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Raven Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Vilas County cover bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. The county list is broader than any single water. On Raven Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 66°F; the cold one sits at 9°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Look for the thaw near mid April; the fishing lifts straight after. Averages suggest open water from about mid April through to roughly late November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Expect Raven Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Headflyer Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at Raven Lake carry more weight than any list.