Wilson Lake, Wisconsin: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Wilson Lake lies in Vilas County, in Wisconsin. Around the bank it is rolling bush. This is a pocket water of some 17 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Vilas County are larger. The closest town, Eagle River, is 11 miles away. The big place round here is Green Bay, 124 miles distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Wilson Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Across Vilas County, recorded fish include bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and largemouth bass. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Treat Wilson Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 9°F in January to roughly 65°F in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late April. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Wilson Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Snyder Lake is 0.9 miles distant. For Wilson Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.