WI · ranked by public data
103 Vilas County lakes have a DNR smallmouth bass status record; 76 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria (27 excluded for no verified public access), out of 567 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.
Comparable adult late spring electrofishing catch per effort (adult fish/mile) — one lake recorded, no peer rank
Vilas County, WI
adult late spring electrofishing catch per effort (adult fish/mile) · one comparable lake, so no peer rank
Comparable spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) — one lake recorded, no peer rank
Vilas County, WI
spring electrofishing catch per effort (fish/mile) · one comparable lake, so no peer rank
Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable smallmouth bass numeric survey system
| Rank | Lake | County | Acres | System score | Primary score signal | Survey measurement | Metric year | Fishing report | DNR status | Smallmouth Bass stocking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Big Muskellunge Lake | Vilas | 897 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Big Portage Lake | Vilas | 586 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Big Saint Germain Lake | Vilas | 1,622 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Big Sand Lake | Vilas | 1,427 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Birch Lake | Vilas | 506 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Black Oak Lake | Vilas | 564 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Boulder Lake | Vilas | 516 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Catfish Lake | Vilas | 1,012 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Circle Lily Lake | Vilas | 218 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Clear Lake | Vilas | 515 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Day Lake | Vilas | 110 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Diamond Lake | Vilas | 115 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Eagle Lake | Vilas | 575 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Fence Lake | Vilas | 3,483 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Flambeau Lake | Vilas | 1,166 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Forest Lake | Vilas | 468 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
| — | Gunlock Lake | Vilas | 264 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Smallmouth Bass) | — |
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 smallmouth bass 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.
103 Vilas County lakes have a DNR smallmouth bass 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.