Lac Vieux Desert fishing

Fishing at Lac Vieux Desert has Walleye and Muskellunge on the stocking report. It is stocked about 2.1 times a year since 2011, most often in January. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye and dawn and dusk for Muskellunge.

Last stocked

January 1, 2025

Plants on record

31

Since 2011

Species recorded

2

Average size

5.6 in

Surface acres

2,874.1

Access and facts

Nearest town
Town of Phelps, WI
Boat ramp
Yes

3 public boat landings provide access to this 4017-acre lake in Vilas County. Maximum depth is 38 ft.

Sources: access.boat_ramp , shore_notes , nearest_town , fishing_notes , fishing_notes

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How Lac Vieux Desert 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.

About 4,131 reported fish per acre, 2nd most of 23 lakes in Vilas County with both a fish count and a surface area.

Fish at Lac Vieux Desert

Fishing Lac Vieux Desert is most likely to be for Walleye. Walleye accounts for 23 of 31 plants on record, ahead of Muskellunge.

Walleye 23 plants
Plants
23 of 31
Last stocked
January 1, 2025
Average length
3.5 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Walleye guide.

Muskellunge 8 plants
Plants
8 of 31
Last stocked
January 1, 2025
Average length
10.8 in

Seasons and rigs are on the Muskellunge guide.

Fishing Lac Vieux Desert

Lac Vieux Desert is a 4017 acre lake located in Vilas County, where visitors have access from public boat landings. Fish available include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye. A tiger muskellunge caught here on July 16, 1919, is claimed by both Wisconsin and Michigan as a state record and by the International Game Fish Association as the all-tackle world record.

Sources: apps.dnr.wi.gov , en.wikipedia.org

Fish stocked per year

  • 37,1422011
  • 25,0002012
  • 36,0552013
  • 105,3732014
  • 325,7102015
  • 901,7542016
  • 1,060,4512017
  • 956,7862018
  • 1,400,7812019
  • 54,1592020
  • 755,4002021
  • 1,562,1462022
  • 1,012,4022023
  • 1,840,1362024
  • 1,800,6992025

Stocking history

Showing 15 of 31 plants Showing 31 plants

Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
January 1, 2025 Walleye 1,800,000 0.5 in report
January 1, 2025 Muskellunge 699 11.2 in report
January 1, 2024 Walleye 40,136 7.09 in report
January 1, 2024 Walleye 1,800,000 0.5 in report
January 1, 2023 Muskellunge 402 11 in report
January 1, 2023 Walleye 1,012,000 0.25 in report
January 1, 2022 Walleye 1,502,000 0.3 in report
January 1, 2022 Walleye 60,146 7.36 in report
January 1, 2021 Walleye 755,000 0.3 in report
January 1, 2021 Muskellunge 400 12.3 in report
January 1, 2020 Walleye 54,159 6.88 in report
January 1, 2019 Muskellunge 781 11.2 in report
January 1, 2019 Walleye 1,400,000 0.3 in report
January 1, 2018 Walleye 916,000 – report
January 1, 2018 Walleye 3,523 8.2 in report
January 1, 2018 Walleye 37,263 6.38 in report
January 1, 2017 Muskellunge 451 10.8 in report
January 1, 2017 Walleye 1,060,000 – report
January 1, 2016 Walleye 43,849 7.66 in report
January 1, 2016 Walleye 7,905 7.3 in report
January 1, 2016 Walleye 850,000 0.3 in report
January 1, 2015 Muskellunge 710 11.8 in report
January 1, 2015 Walleye 325,000 1 in report
January 1, 2014 Walleye 105,373 2.48 in report
January 1, 2013 Walleye 10,000 6 in report
January 1, 2013 Walleye 24,980 2 in report
January 1, 2013 Muskellunge 1,075 9.2 in report
January 1, 2012 Walleye 25,000 1.7 in report
January 1, 2011 Walleye 10,000 6 in report
January 1, 2011 Muskellunge 2,148 9.2 in report
January 1, 2011 Walleye 24,994 1.8 in report
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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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