Palmer Lake (Vilas County)
Palmer Lake is a 644-acre drainage lake in Vilas County with a maximum depth of 13 feet and a mostly sand and gravel bottom. WDNR lists musky, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass and panfish as common.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Muskellunge
Listed as common by WDNR
Walleye
Listed as common by WDNR
Northern Pike
Listed as common by WDNR
Largemouth Bass
Listed as common by WDNR
Bluegill
Panfish listed as common
Crappie
Panfish listed as common
Smallmouth Bass
Listed as present by WDNR
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Palmer Lake public accessPublicWDNR lists 1 public landingDirections ↗
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye Walleye, sauger and hybrids; 20 in to 24 in cannot be kept; max one over 24 in; May 2, 2026 - Mar 7, 2027 | 15 in | 3 / day |
| Largemouth Bass May 2 - Jun 19, 2026 (smallmouth catch and release only) | 14 in | 5 / day |
| Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass Jun 20, 2026 - Mar 7, 2027 | 14 in | 5 / day |
| Northern Pike May 2, 2026 - Mar 7, 2027 | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 5 / day |
| Muskellunge May 2 - Dec 31, 2026; open water only | 40 in | 1 / day |
| Panfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 25 / day |
| Catfish Open all year | See Wisconsin rules book ↗ | 10 / day |
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.
- Up North TradersNearby2977 State Highway 155, Sayner, WI 54560(715) 542-2046Directions ↗
- Rays LandingNearby544 State Highway 155, Saint Germain, WI 54558(715) 542-4882Directions ↗
- Captain HooksNearby7251 Bradley St, Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539(715) 277-2405Directions ↗
Local tips
- Shallow sand-and-gravel lake: work weed edges and shallow structure for musky and pike
- Walleye typically relate to sand and gravel areas, especially at dawn and dusk
- Check WDNR regulations for musky and walleye before keeping fish
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.