Eagle River Chain of Lakes
The Eagle River Chain is a group of connected lakes in Vilas County that links to the Three Lakes Chain, together billed as 28 connected lakes. The Eagle River portion totals about 3,500 acres, and Vilas County lakes account for a large share of Wisconsin DNR Class A1 musky trophy waters.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Muskellunge
Well-known musky water; Vilas County holds many Class A1 trophy waters
Walleye
Present in the chain's larger lakes
Northern Pike
Common in weedy bays
Largemouth Bass
Common along weed edges
Smallmouth Bass
Found on harder bottom near points
Bluegill
Panfish common in the chain
Yellow Perch
Common panfish
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Catfish Lake public landingPublicOne public launch per Lake-Link; exact location not confirmedDirections ↗
- Cranberry Lake public landingPublicPublic landing listed by ERCLADirections ↗
- Eagle Lake public landingPublicOne boat landing per WDNRDirections ↗
- Voyageur Lake public landingPublicPublic landing listed by ERCLADirections ↗
- Burnt Rollways Dam boat hoistPublicOperates May-September to move boats between Eagle River and Three Lakes chainsDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the WDNR lake page for all landingsDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass May 2-Jun 19, 2026 (then combined with smallmouth Jun 20, 2026-Mar 7, 2027) | 14" | 5 |
| Smallmouth bass May 2-Jun 19, 2026; Jun 20, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 combined bass 14" min, 5 | catch and release only | 0 |
| Muskellunge and hybrids May 2-Dec 31, 2026 open water | 40" | 1 |
| Northern pike May 2, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 5 |
| Walleye, sauger, hybrids May 2, 2026-Mar 7, 2027 | none; 14"-18" may not be kept, only 1 over 18" | 3 |
| Panfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 25 |
| Catfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 10 |
| Cisco and whitefish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 10 |
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.
- Eagle Sports CenterNearby702 Wall St., Eagle River, WI 54521715-479-8804Directions ↗
- R & M Musky and TackleNearby5196 State Hwy 70 W, Eagle River, WI 54521715-477-0019Directions ↗
Local tips
- Fish weed edges and bars in the larger basins such as Catfish and Cranberry
- Use the Burnt Rollways Dam boat hoist (May-Sept) to reach the Three Lakes Chain
- Check posted rules at each landing since musky limits vary by water
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.
More Wisconsin lakes
Lake Puckaway Lake DuBay Lake Winneshiek Lake Winneconne Willow Flowage Lake Vieux Desert Lac Vieux Desert Trout Lake All Wisconsin lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.