Vilas County, in Northern Wisconsin, has a host of waters that offer phenomenal fishing for smallmouth bass, muskies, walleyes and more. (Shutterstock images)
August 15, 2023
By Mike Pehanich
With more than 1,300 lakes and 73 streams, Wisconsin’s Vilas County is a freshwater fishing paradise. In the heart of this region lies the town of Boulder Junction, which bills itself as "The Musky Capital of the World."
Within a 10-mile radius of town, there are 194 lakes, many of which produce a steady yield of tape-measure muskies to back the claim. But muskies aren’t the only draw here—not by a long shot.
Marty Clauson, guide and owner of Marty Clauson Fishing Adventures , says most anglers come for walleyes, but for him the real fun is the area’s smallmouth bass angling, which he describes as world-class and relatively untouched.
The species opportunities rival the beauty and diversity of the area’s waters. Northern pike are popular targets on almost every lake. According to Vilas County biologist Eric Wegleitner, unique inland strains of lake trout inhabit Trout Lake and Black Oak Lake, two waters orphaned by the passing of Ice Age glaciers. And those looking to explore can find plenty of moody, intimate streams off the beaten track with a full roster of game species, including native brook trout.
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WONDROUS WATERS Muskies are the region’s glamour fish, walleyes the crowd-pleasers and smallmouths the best kept secret, but ask a local about his or her favorite water for any one species, and you may not find two similar opinions. For prime opportunities to catch all three species, however, you can narrow the list.
Lac du Flambeau Chain This clear-water chain of nine lakes—highlighted by Pokegama, Long Interlaken, Crawling Stone and Fence lakes—represents a diverse system of waters with habitat ranging from deep rock to shallow vegetation. Smallmouths and muskies thrive here, and the walleye fishing rates well, too.
Clauson describes this chain as one of his favorites, a place where almost any bait in your tackle box has an application. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft plastics tempt smallies, as well as the chain’s big population of largemouths. Credit a rich forage base that includes smelt for the fish growth here.
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Manitowish Chain This snowflake-shaped cluster of 10 connected lakes near the town of Manitowish Waters offers great variety in a “small waters” package. Only Island Lake exceeds 1,000 acres. Manitowish Lake, Clear Lake, Wild Rice Lake and Rest Lake offer some elbow room, too, but don’t hesitate to fish the more diminutive links in the chain. Clauson says the lakes have a wide variety of structure and solid bass and musky fisheries, as well as a burgeoning walleye population following a previous decline.
Trout Lake This renowned lake offers good walleye and smallmouth bass numbers and some of the very best northern pike action in the region, not to mention the chance at a musky of monstrous proportions. Game fish have grown fat on bumper crops of crawfish—a clue to your lure selection. Try tube jigs, skirted jigs with craw trailers and bottom-bumping hard baits to capitalize.
Cisco Chain Straddling the state line between Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, this set of waters is known for big muskies and northern pike, and a generous population of walleyes. Vilas County lays claim to large shares of Big Lake, Mamie Lake and West Bay Lake acreage, but much of the chain reaches well into the U.P.
Other Options Additional lake clusters with outstanding mixed-bag opportunity include the Eagle River chain in the southeast corner of Vilas County and the Minocqua Chain just south of the county line.
SMALL HOLES AND STREAMS I fell in love with Vilas County as a child on family vacations to Big Arbor Vitae Lake. The region took on a mythic aura when anglers regaled me with tales of big fish from neighboring Big Saint Germain Lake and the waters of the Eagle River region.
While these large lakes and chains are great, special magic also lies off the beaten track. When I was younger, my brother and I would hike pine forests graced with clusters of nameless pothole lakes and revel in an ever-changing mixed-bag catch. Today, tremendous small-water opportunity remains not only in secluded waters but also in easily accessed lakes protected by their relative anonymity amid so many lakes of legend. Clauson says he’s also seeing more and more anglers venturing to remote lakes with kayaks and canoes and finding phenomenal bass fisheries with relatively light fishing pressure.
Among these small-water gems are a series of so-called "DNR lakes"—aka the Northern Highland Research Area—a short jaunt southeast from Boulder Junction. The Wisconsin DNR keeps careful catch and harvest records on these lakes—Escanaba, Pallette, Nebish, Mystery and Spruce—to test and assess the effects of varying size and bag limits.
Moving water is another option. Bill Sherer, owner of Northern Adventure Guide Service (715-385-0171), often guides fly anglers for trout, smallmouth bass and muskies on unheralded streams within an hour’s reach of his We Tie It fly shop (wetieit.com ) in Boulder Junction. Sherer reports that a “fantastic” late-season run of muskies in 2022 included a 50-incher—a bucket-list dream for any angler.
SPECIES STRATEGIES Muskellunge Bill Gardner, author of the musky fishing classic Time on the Water, chose the Boulder Junction area to indulge a full season of musky madness during the 1980s. But, truthfully, the good old days of musky fishing are right now, as far more of them populate area waters today than during Gardner’s quest. Credit better management, strategic stocking and—above all—catch-and-release practices for both the numbers and the monsters.
"As we all know today, the key to catching a 50-inch fish is to throw back a 48-incher," quips Bill Sherer. You don’t need to hunt down $100 crafted lures to catch them, either.
Sherer says that bucktails have always been—and remain—the top bait category for muskies, with black, red, perch and fire tiger colors being top producers. These same colors shine for fly anglers fishing streamers, too.
Clauson generally suggests matching bait offerings to a lake’s predominant forage when possible. He adds that other typical musky baits, like big glide baits and various topwater lures, also get the job done on waters throughout Vilas County. Top musky waters include Boulder Lake, Trout Lake, White Sand Lake, High Lake and Fish Trap Lake, along with the previously mentioned chains of lakes.
Large streamers fit the bill for fly-rodders looking to tangle with muskies. Bill Sherer’s We Tie It fly shop has all the gear fly anglers need. (Photo by Mike Pehanich) Walleyes Walleye lakes both large and small are numerous. Clauson says many of the seepage lakes—even 100- and 200-acre lakes—have good walleye populations, but the best ones have an inlet or outlet stream or small river. Current of some kind makes for better walleye water. You’ll find fish in vegetation and on conventional hard-bottom offshore structure.
"Cabbage weed is always going to be key, but curly-leaf pondweed is very good, too," Clauson says. "It is better to have a mix than just a single kind of plant. Whenever you get two or three varieties of vegetation coming together, you will find more fish."
Clauson’s rig of choice is a minnow trailing a jig tailored to the underwater terrain. He prefers a stand-up jig for hard bottom structure, especially the Bait Rigs variety, but opts for a weedless jig when working vegetation.
Smallmouth Bass Bass anglers can find glory in Vilas County whether fishing a pothole gem or a renowned lake. The smallmouths taken from these pristine waters appear as if they’ve leaped from an artist’s easel. Along with muscular bronzebacks are overlooked populations of largemouths, too.
On Big Muskellunge Lake one day in early summer, Clauson and I took impressive smallmouths on tube jigs and some new Ned rig variants—two categories of soft plastics you should always have on hand. Clauson also likes assorted topwater baits, which he feels are underrated. He says bass are usually willing to eat them, and they often bring explosive strikes.
EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES The great multi-species fishing amid myriad scenic settings makes Vilas County’s Boulder Junction a top summer destination for anglers and their families. Whether you’re a trophy hunter out to catch and release one exceptional musky, a bass addict looking for quality and quantity or a diehard walleye chaser seeking to feed the fryer, the waters of Vilas County deliver. Plan your first or next trip now.
VILAS VACATION GUIDE Things to consider when planning a trip to Boulder Junction. Outstanding resorts and fine-dining establishments abound in Boulder Junction and the broader Vilas County region. One sure way to draw a bead on your fishing and family needs is to contact the area’s tourism organizations. The Boulder Junction Chamber of Commerce (715-385-2400; boulderjct.org ) compiles an annual visitors guide and can provide additional lodging, dining and recreational tips. Vilas County Tourism (715-479-3649; vilaswi.com ) in Eagle River is another helpful source of information.
Target smallmouth bass, walleyes or muskies, or plan a multi-species outing with Marty Clauson at Marty Clauson Fishing Adventures (608-369-0075; fishingboulderjunction.com ). Meanwhile, for up-to-date info and a full range of quality bait and tackle, try Northern Highland Sports (northernhighlandsports.com ) in the heart of Boulder Junction. Fly fishermen ready to challenge the mighty muskellunge and other species (including trout) should visit Bill Sherer’s We Tie It fly fishing specialties shop (715-385-0171; wetieit.com ). Or, better yet, book a trip through Bill’s Northern Adventures Guide Service.
Of course, always check Wisconsin fishing regulations for seasonal restrictions and size and creel limits for the waters you elect to fish before you reach your destination.
This article was published in the Midwest edition of June-July 2023's Game & Fish Magazine. Click to subscribe .
