Frozen in Time: Our Love for Ice Fishing

LAND O’ LAKES – You’re never far from a quality fishing lake while visiting Land O’ Lakes. This Vilas County community near the border with Michigan is surrounded by hundreds of glacial lakes that, for the most part, are good fish producers.

The lakes are pristine and have abundant numbers of panfish and gamefish for those anglers toting ice augers and pulling sleds. For the most part, they’re after walleye, northern pike and panfish. But bass and trout are also caught.

Among the favorite lakes is Black Oak Lake, a very clear 564-acre lake, located just east of Land O’ Lakes. It has amean depth of 34 feet and a maximum depth of 85 feet. Access is via a public boat landing on County Highway B.

Lac Vieux Desert Lake is also popular with fishermen. In the past, the Phelps-Land O’ Lakes Lions Club has held their Great Northern Ice Fishing Tournaments on this large lake that tops out at more than 4,200 acres and with a maximum depth of 38 feet. No word yet for on any 2022 tournament, so check with the local chamber of commerce for an update.

Lac Vieux Desert holds good numbers of muskies, perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleyes. It’s a lake that draws trophy hunters as well as people of all ages who enjoy brisk panfishing. Access is from one of the lake’s two public boat landings. You’ll find one ramp on the lake’s west store and a second ramp in Michigan off Misery Bay Road.