Fishing Scat Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  Set in Vilas County, Scat Lake is a Wisconsin water. The bank gives way to pine and birch. Small at around 15 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Vilas County standards. Eagle River sits 3 miles from here and is the nearest stop. After that come Rhinelander at 24 miles and Iron River at 31 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Scat Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Scat Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 65°F, the coldest about 9°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. It sets the rhythm of the year at Scat Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is a pier recorded roughly 0.9 miles away. A campsite is mapped about 0.9 miles away, which makes an early start easier. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Little Pine Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Scat Lake for certain.