WI · ranked by public data
123 Vilas County lakes have a DNR walleye status record; 87 lakes with status, survey, or report evidence met our criteria (36 excluded for no verified public access), out of 567 documented lakes in the county. Updated July 2026.
Ranked within adult population density — ranks restart at 1
Vilas County, WI
80.0 within-system score · ~1,818 estimated adults · 2 adult fish/acre · 2024 DNR survey
Vilas County, WI
40.0 within-system score · ~1,274 estimated adults · 5.9 adult fish/acre · 2024 DNR survey
Vilas County, WI
37.5 within-system score · ~1,586 estimated adults · 1.5 adult fish/acre · 2024 DNR survey
Documented species evidence — unranked and alphabetical
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system
Vilas County, WI
Documented DNR evidence · no comparable walleye numeric survey system
| Rank | Lake | County | Acres | System score | Primary score signal | Survey measurement | Metric year | Fishing report | DNR status | Walleye stocking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Big Arbor Vitae Lake | Vilas | 1,070 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Abundant (Walleye) | Yes |
| — | Big Lake | Vilas | 827 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Walleye) | — |
| — | Big Lake | Vilas | 780 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Abundant (Walleye) | — |
| — | Big Muskellunge Lake | Vilas | 897 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Walleye) | — |
| — | Big Portage Lake | Vilas | 586 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Walleye) | — |
| — | Big Saint Germain Lake | Vilas | 1,622 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Walleye) | Yes |
| — | Big Sand Lake | Vilas | 1,427 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Walleye) | Yes |
| — | Birch Lake | Vilas | 506 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Walleye) | — |
| — | Black Oak Lake | Vilas | 564 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Walleye) | — |
| — | Boot Lake | Vilas | 286 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Walleye) | Yes |
| — | Boulder Lake | Vilas | 516 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Abundant (Walleye) | — |
| — | Brandy Lake | Vilas | 113 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Walleye) | Yes |
| — | Catfish Lake | Vilas | 1,012 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Abundant (Walleye) | — |
| — | Circle Lily Lake | Vilas | 218 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Walleye) | Yes |
| — | Clear Lake | Vilas | 515 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Walleye) | Yes |
| — | Dead Pike Lakeimpaired | Vilas | 309 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Common (Walleye) | Yes |
| — | Diamond Lake | Vilas | 115 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Present (Walleye) | — |
| — | Eagle Lake | Vilas | 575 | — | — | — | — | No · 0% signal | Abundant (Walleye) | — |
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 walleye ranking.
FAQ
3 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.
123 Vilas County lakes have a DNR walleye 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.