Natural lake

Fence Lake

Vilas County, Wisconsin

Fence Lake is a 3,483-acre lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin, near the Lac du Flambeau community. It has a maximum depth of 86 feet and is listed by the WDNR with common musky, walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and panfish.

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Current air temperature at Fence Lake (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area3,483 acres

Max depth86 ft

Shoreline—

Boat motorsCheck local rules

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Musky●●●●○

Big baits along weed edges, rock bars and channel breaks, best in fall.

Walleye●●●●○

Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.

Northern Pike●●●●○

Weed edges and bays. Spoons, spinnerbaits and tip-ups through the ice.

Smallmouth Bass●●●●○

Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.

Panfish●●●●○

Bluegill, crappie and perch in weeds and brush. Great through the ice.

Largemouth Bass●●●○○

Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.

Trout●●●○○

Deep, cold water in summer. Downriggers or vertical jigging.

Boat launches

2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Western shore public boat launchRamp
Public boat landing with paved ramp; owned by the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior ChippewaDirections ↗
More public accessPublic
See 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 ↗

Verified October 2026. Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Wisconsin DNR before you fish.

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 / TackleboxNearby
2549 WI-47, Lac du Flambeau(715) 588-4211 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Fence Lake ↗

Local tips

Walleye here have a protected slot: 20-24 inches may not be kept, 15 inch minimum, 3 per day.
Musky minimum is 40 inches with a limit of 1; smallmouth bass are catch and release only until the June 20 harvest opening.
The lake reaches 86 feet deep with a 37 foot average, so fish can be found over a wide range of depths.

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

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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.