2025
MuskellungeUpper Wisconsin River · Large Fingerling
69911.2 in average
LakeList
FavoritesStateWisconsin
Lac Vieux Desert
Enhanced dataInteractive depth contours
Lac Vieux DesertVilas County, WI
Contours load with map Access
Interactive depth contours5-foot typical interval · Sonar-derived depth (C-MAP Genesis) · Gaps interpolated · Not for navigation
Source: C-MAP Genesis community sonar (derived)high confidence · QA passed · Select a contour to inspect its mapped depthDepths decoded from C-MAP Genesis Social Map community sonar recordings (used with permission), covering 78% of the lake. Small gaps between recordings are smoothly connected; larger unrecorded areas follow the lake's depth model calibrated to the DNR-documented 38-ft maximum depth. More accurate than a pure model, but still an estimate. Not for navigation.LakeList assistant
Plan your lake day
Fishing spots, food, lodging, marinas, and rentals around Lac Vieux Desert.
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Fishing
Fishing at Lac Vieux Desert
Fishery
Notable species
Largemouth BassMuskyNorthern PikePanfishSmallmouth BassWalleye
Angler reports · Fishbrain
What anglers catch here
Anglers have logged 174 catches on Lac Vieux Desert via Fishbrain — 9 in the last 30 days, most recently on Jul 26, 2026.
Most-reported species
- Northern pike
- Largemouth bass
- Walleye
- Bluegill
- Yellow perch
- Black crappie
Show 3 more species
- Rock bass
- Pumpkinseed
- Smallmouth bass
18 of the 174 logged catches didn’t name a species and aren’t listed above.
Seasonality
All fishOf the 174 logged catches, 122 carry a month and 112 carry a year; the charts cover those.
2022 had the most reports (32).
Counts reflect reporting activity, not fish populations. Waterbody location is provider-level; exact spots and angler details aren’t shown.
Fishery details for this lakeExplore this area on FishbrainWisconsin DNR stocking
Fish stocking history
The latest published year is 2025, when 1,800,699 fish were recorded across 2 entries.
2025
WalleyeUpper Wisconsin River · Fry
1,800,0000.5 in average
2024
WalleyeUpper Wisconsin River · Fry
1,800,0000.5 in average
2024
WalleyeUpper Wisconsin River · Large Fingerling
40,1367.1 in average
2023
MuskellungeUpper Wisconsin River · Large Fingerling
40211.0 in average
2023
WalleyeUpper Wisconsin River · Fry
1,012,0000.3 in average
2022
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Fry
1,502,0000.3 in average
2022
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
60,1467.4 in average
2021
MuskellungeUpper Wisconsin River · Large Fingerling
40012.3 in average
2021
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Fry
755,0000.3 in average
2020
WalleyeMississippi Headwaters · Large Fingerling
54,1596.9 in average
2019
MuskellungeUpper Wisconsin River · Large Fingerling
78111.2 in average
Showing the 12 most recent records from 31 published entries.
NWS weather
Weather windows
Weather-based planning from the National Weather Service hourly forecast near this lake — not a catch forecast.
Loading latest forecast…
Checking wind, precipitation, and near-term weather windows.
Water temperature
Lac Vieux Desert water temperature today
Modeled surface-temperature estimate built from seasonal climate, lake depth, and live National Weather Service air temperatures near this lake.
68°FWarm
Seasonal estimate. Checking current National Weather Service air temperatures…
Comfortable summer pattern. Bass and panfish are active; early and late hours beat the midday heat.
Estimates are modeled, not measured. Actual temperatures vary with depth, wind mixing, and recent weather — verify conditions before swimming, boating, or heading onto ice.
DNR water check
Water quality quick take
From Wisconsin DNR / Citizen Lake Monitoring readings at Lac Vieux Desert - Max Depth.
Last sampled Oct 2022
Through 2022, somewhat hazy water — summer clarity of 4.8 ft is lower than most monitored Wisconsin lakes.
Based on July–August 2022 averages across 4 volunteer readings.Water claritySecchi disk depth
4.8 ftJul–Aug 2022 avg (2 readings)
HazyDeclining — down ~38% vs earlier years
Clearer than 21% of 593 monitored Wisconsin lakes with current readings.
AlgaeChlorophyll-a
14 µg/LJul–Aug 2022 avg (2 readings)
ElevatedWorsening — up ~98% vs earlier years
No recent nutrient readings — last measured 2012.
All readings by year · station details · methodology
Summer averages (July/August)
July/August means; counts in parentheses show how many samples went into each average.
| Year | Secchi | Chlorophyll-a | Total phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4.8 ft (2) | 14.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2021 | 5.4 ft (2) | 20.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2020 | 5.4 ft (2) | 9.0 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2018 | — | 6.5 µg/L (2) | — |
| 2012 | 7.2 ft (2) | 8.0 µg/L (2) | 27.0 µg/L (2) |
| 2011 | 8.1 ft (2) | 7.5 µg/L (2) | 29.5 µg/L (2) |
| 2010 | 10.0 ft (2) | 6.5 µg/L (2) | 23.0 µg/L (2) |
| 2009 | 7.9 ft (2) | 3.5 µg/L (2) | 28.5 µg/L (2) |
| 2002 | — | 10.5 µg/L (2) | 33.5 µg/L (2) |
| 2001 | — | 6.5 µg/L (2) | 35.0 µg/L (2) |
Latest individual samples: Secchi 4.9 ft (2022-10-19), chlorophyll-a 16 µg/L (2022-10-19), and total phosphorus 29 µg/L (2018-09-13).
Secchi clarity is how deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface — more feet means clearer water.
Chlorophyll-a is an algae pigment; higher values signal more algae in the water column.
Total phosphorus is a nutrient that feeds algae and aquatic plants. It is not a weed survey — depth, bottom type, water movement, and management change the actual lake experience.
Lac Vieux Desert - Max DepthStation 643206
Modeled from DNR/CLMN monitoring — not a safety or swim-condition report. Verify current conditions locally. LakeList verified 2026-07-12.Official Wisconsin information
Plan with DNR sources
LakeList links to the authoritative record so you can verify maps, rules, and current notices before leaving.
Historical DNR depth maps9 converted map sheetsView DNR depth mapHistorical map · not for navigationFishing regulationsVerify current seasons, limits, and restrictionsOfficial DNR lake pageFacts, advisories, boating, and water qualityWater quality reportsMonitoring stations, clarity, and DNR reportsInvasive speciesVerified, observed, and historical AIS recordsBoating ordinancesLocal slow-no-wake and water-use restrictionsFish consumption advisoriesStatewide and waterbody-specific health guidance
Historical depth maps are not for navigation. Verify regulations and access at the official source before your trip.
Historical Wisconsin DNR maps
Lac Vieux Desert depth maps
9 converted map sheets. These historical surveys are not for navigation.
Navigable depth map
Lac Vieux Desert · sheet 1
Pan, zoom, and inspect the converted Wisconsin DNR historical map image in the browser. Historical survey — not for navigation.
Source: Wisconsin DNR · WBIC 1631900 · image navigation only; spatial alignment pending · Historical lake maps are not for navigation.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Converted for browser access with source URLs, checksums, and retrieval dates retained. Historical lake maps are not for navigation.
4,017surface acres
38max depth feet
3public access points
46.1373, -89.1126latitude, longitude
Access
Public access points
Boat launchCarry-in Access at SW Side of Lake46.12149, -89.15241Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Boat launchNational Forest Campground Boat Access46.13446, -89.14993Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Boat launchThunder Bay Boat Ramp46.12329, -89.07381Managed by Wisconsin DNR
DNR verifiedDirections
Nearby
Trip-planning places
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Depth FAQ
How deep is Lac Vieux Desert?
Lac Vieux Desert is 38 feet deep at its deepest point, according to Wisconsin DNR records.
Is there a free depth map of Lac Vieux Desert?
Yes. LakeList publishes a free interactive depth contour map of Lac Vieux Desert at a typical 5-foot interval, with an optional 3D underwater view, derived from C-MAP Genesis community sonar (derived) survey data.
Where does the Lac Vieux Desert depth map come from?
The interactive depth contours are derived from C-MAP Genesis community sonar (derived). Each contour set passes a visual QA review against the source document before it is published. The depths are derived from community sonar recordings (C-MAP Genesis Social Map, used with permission), with gaps between recordings interpolated; not for navigation.
Trust and freshness
Where this lake data comes from
Wisconsin DNR Lake Mapsname, coordinates, county, source identifiers
LakeList record updated 2026-07-14
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