WI · ranked by public data
140 Vilas County lakes have a DNR panfish status record; 99 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria (41 excluded for no verified public access), out of 567 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.
Comparable late spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · Bluegill — one lake recorded, no peer rank
Vilas County, WI
late spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · Bluegill · one comparable lake, so no peer rank
Comparable late spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · Pumpkinseed — one lake recorded, no peer rank
Vilas County, WI
late spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · Pumpkinseed · one comparable lake, so no peer rank
Comparable spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · Bluegill — one lake recorded, no peer rank
Vilas County, WI
spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · Bluegill · one comparable lake, so no peer rank
Comparable spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · Pumpkinseed — one lake recorded, no peer rank
Vilas County, WI
spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · Pumpkinseed · one comparable lake, so no peer rank
Comparable spring fyke net catch per effort (fish/net lift) · Black Crappie — one lake recorded, no peer rank
Vilas County, WI
spring fyke net catch per effort (fish/net lift) · Black Crappie · one comparable lake, so no peer rank
Comparable spring fyke net catch per effort (fish/net lift) · Yellow Perch — one lake recorded, no peer rank
Vilas County, WI
spring fyke net catch per effort (fish/net lift) · Yellow Perch · one comparable lake, so no peer rank
Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable panfish numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable panfish numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable panfish numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable panfish numeric survey system
| Rank | Lake | County | Acres | System score | Primary score signal | Survey measurement | Metric year | Fishing report | DNR status | Panfish stocking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Anvil Lake | Vilas | 377 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Panfish) | — |
| — | Apeekwa Lake | Vilas | 206 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Arrowhead Lake | Vilas | 96 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Big Arbor Vitae Lake | Vilas | 1,070 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Big Lake | Vilas | 827 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Big Lake | Vilas | 780 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Big Muskellunge Lake | Vilas | 897 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Big Portage Lake | Vilas | 586 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Panfish) | — |
| — | Big Saint Germain Lake | Vilas | 1,622 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Big Sand Lake | Vilas | 1,427 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Abundant (Panfish) | — |
| — | Birch Lake | Vilas | 506 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Black Oak Lake | Vilas | 564 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Abundant (Panfish) | — |
| — | Boot Lake | Vilas | 286 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Abundant (Panfish) | — |
| — | Boulder Lake | Vilas | 516 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Brandy Lake | Vilas | 113 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Abundant (Panfish) | — |
| — | Catfish Lake | Vilas | 1,012 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Circle Lily Lake | Vilas | 218 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Clair Lake | Vilas | 51 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Clear Lake | Vilas | 515 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Crystal Lake | Vilas | 93 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
| — | Day Lake | Vilas | 110 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Panfish) | — |
Methodology
County ranks use the same statewide exact-family contract; systems with at least two eligible county peers restart at #1. The score is 55% survey rate × acreage, 30% survey rate, and 10% recency, plus 5% for a current species report. Catch-per-effort × acreage is only an opportunity index, never a literal fish count. Documented acreage plus verified public or shore access are eligibility gates. Unsupported methods stay documented but unranked. See the complete definitions on the statewide panfish ranking.
FAQ
0 lakes receive at least one peer-backed, exact-lake numeric rank. Catch-per-effort systems separate species, phase, gear, unit, and sampled population; standardized adult-density estimates form their own system, so systems with at least two eligible county peers can each have a #1 in Vilas County.
140 Vilas County lakes have a DNR panfish status record. Numeric rank still requires an exact comparable family plus the acreage and access gates.
Source data: Wisconsin DNR lake, stocking, and fisheries records as aggregated by LakeList. Rankings are LakeList's computed opinion from public agency data, not a DNR endorsement. Conditions and regulations change — verify access and rules before you go.