Stepping Stone Lake Number 1 in Vilas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Vilas County, Wisconsin, sits Stepping Stone Lake Number 1. Everything around it is rolling bush. Surface area runs to about 15 acres — small enough to read in one session. Most waters listed here for Vilas County are larger. Lac du Flambeau lies 9.6 miles from the water. Wakefield follows at 26 miles, then Bessemer at 27 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Stepping Stone Lake Number 1

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Vilas County cover bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. This water fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 10°F and July at about 65°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid April in spring and again near late November in autumn. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Anyone fishing this water regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. 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. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Three Stepping Stones Lakes at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on this water is worth confirming on the day.