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

• Overview

  This water sits in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Around the bank it is rolling bush. At 20 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Compared with other Wisconsin water on our list, it sits high. Eagle River sits 1.6 miles from the bank. The nearest city of size is Green Bay, 112 miles away. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Taylor Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in Vilas County include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye, largemouth bass and rock bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The shape of Taylor Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 10°F in January to roughly 66°F in July. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. Climate averages put the opening at about mid April and the closing near late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Taylor Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. A recognised fishing place sits half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Dollar Lake is 0.9 miles distant. Check the current arrangement for Taylor Lake.