Crawling Stone Lake
Crawling Stone Lake is a 1,483-acre drainage lake in Vilas County near Lac du Flambeau, with a maximum depth of 87 feet and an average depth of about 31 feet. It is connected to Little Crawling Stone Lake and holds walleye, panfish, musky, northern pike and both bass species.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Panfish
Bluegill, crappie and perch in weeds and brush. Great through the ice.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Musky
Big baits along weed edges, rock bars and channel breaks, best in fall.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Northern Pike
Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Little Crawling Stone Lake WDNR landingPublicPublic boat landing at the southwest end of Little Crawling Stone Lake near Silver Beach Drive; the big lake has no public landing of its own and is reached through a channelDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the WDNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye Walleye, sauger and hybrids; open May 2, 2026 - Mar 7, 2027 | 15 in (20-24 in may not be kept; 1 over 24 in) | 3 / day |
| Largemouth Bass Largemouth and smallmouth combined; open May 2 - Mar 7, 2027 | 14 in | 5 / day |
| Smallmouth Bass Catch and release only May 2 - Jun 19, 2026; harvest Jun 20, 2026 - Mar 7, 2027 | 14 in | 5 / day |
| Northern Pike Open May 2, 2026 - Mar 7, 2027 | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 5 / day |
| Muskellunge Includes hybrids; open May 2 - Dec 31, 2026 | 40 in | 1 / day |
| Panfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 25 / day |
| Catfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 10 / day |
| Lake Sturgeon Closed to fishing | Closed | 0 |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Wisconsin DNR ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Lac du Flambeau Campground and Marina / TackleboxNearby2549 WI-47, Lac du Flambeau(715) 588-4211Directions ↗
Local tips
- There is no public landing on the big lake itself; launch at the Little Crawling Stone landing and boat through the connecting channel.
- The north end has dense submerged weeds, and the bottom is mainly sand with some muck and rock.
- Smallmouth bass are catch and release only until June 20, and walleye have a protected 20-24 inch slot.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.