Alder Lake fishing

Fishing at Alder Lake is on a natural lake, stocked with Walleye. It is stocked about 0.7 times a year since 2016, most often in January. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night as the active times.

Last stocked

January 1, 2025

Plants on record

7

Since 2016

Species recorded

1

Average size

2.3 in

Surface acres

264.2

Access and facts

Water type
natural lake
Nearest town
Manitowish Waters, WI
Boat ramp
Yes
Float tube friendly
Yes
ADA accessible
No

Alder Lake's only public access is a carry-in landing (unimproved sand launch) in the Town of Manitowish Waters. No boarding dock, restrooms, or ADA features are on file there.

Sources: water_type , access.boat_ramp , access.ada , access.float_tube , nearest_town , shore_notes , fishing_notes , watch_outs , watch_outs

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How Alder Lake is stocked

The first plant of the year usually falls in the first week of January. In 2025 it was January 1, 2025, about when it usually is.

No plants recorded in 2017, 2019, and 2020.

About 8,775 reported fish per acre, the most of 23 lakes in Vilas County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Fish at Alder Lake

Fishing Alder Lake is most likely to be for Walleye. All 7 plants on record are Walleye.

Walleye 7 plants
Plants
7 of 7
Last stocked
January 1, 2025
Average length
2.3 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Fishing Alder Lake

Alder Lake, located in Vilas County, provides opportunities for anglers to catch various species. The lake supports Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye. This waterbody measures 264 acres and has a maximum depth of 30 feet, with its bottom including 85% sand.

Sources: apps.dnr.wi.gov

What to watch for

Several invasive species are present, such as Banded Mystery Snail, Chinese Mystery Snail, Curly-Leaf Pondweed, Eurasian Water-Milfoil, and Rusty Crayfish. Anglers should be aware that the public access is an unimproved carry-in launch, with a launch depth recorded as less than 3 feet.

Fish stocked per year

  • 2,7402016
  • 2,7122018
  • 1,0002021
  • 700,0002022
  • 485,0002023
  • 5,0002024
  • 1,122,0002025

Stocking history

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
January 1, 2025 Walleye 1,122,000 0.5 in report
January 1, 2024 Walleye 5,000 0.5 in report
January 1, 2023 Walleye 485,000 0.25 in report
January 1, 2022 Walleye 700,000 0.3 in report
January 1, 2021 Walleye 1,000 0.3 in report
January 1, 2018 Walleye 2,712 7 in report
January 1, 2016 Walleye 2,740 7 in report

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

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