Fishing Whitney Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin

• Overview

  In Wisconsin, Whitney Lake falls inside Vilas County. The surface lies 1,624 feet up. Roughly 226 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The whole outline is near 2.3 miles, and most of it is walkable. On our Vilas County list it sits near the top for size. Lac du Flambeau lies 13 miles from the water. Wakefield is 27 miles away, with Eagle River at 27 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Whitney Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Vilas County list bluegill, yellow perch and walleye. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Whitney Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 65°F, the coldest about 9°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. The season on Whitney Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Maple Lake is 1.5 miles distant. Confirm access to Whitney Lake locally before you travel.