Walleye Stocked · 23 plants · last 2025 Best: dawn, dusk, night Lac Vieux Desert fishing
Lac Vieux Desert fishing is stocked with Walleye and Muskellunge on a natural lake. Also recorded: Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Black Crappie, and 3 more. It is stocked about 2.1 times a year since 2011. Species guides list dawn, dusk, and night for Walleye, Black Crappie, and Rock Bass, dawn and dusk for Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass, and dawn, day, and dusk for Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Bluegill.
- Last stocked
- 2025
- Walleye
- Plants on record
- 31
- Since 2011
- Species stocked
- 2 (+9 also recorded)
- Average size
- 5.6 in
- Surface acres
- 2,874.1
Fish at Lac Vieux Desert
Walleye Stocked · 23 plants · last 2025 Best: dawn, dusk, night 
Muskellunge Stocked · 8 plants · last 2025 Best: dawn, dusk 
Northern Pike Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Northern Pike species guide
Largemouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Largemouth Bass species guide
Smallmouth Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk Best: dawn, dusk
Smallmouth Bass species guide
Yellow Perch Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Yellow Perch species guide
Bluegill Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk Best: dawn, day, dusk
Bluegill species guide
Black Crappie Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night Best: dawn, dusk, night
Black Crappie species guide
Pumpkinseed Confirmed present Best: dusk Best: dusk
Pumpkinseed species guide
Rock Bass Confirmed present Best: dawn, dusk, night Best: dawn, dusk, night
Rock Bass species guide
Cisco Confirmed present 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. (apps.dnr.wi.gov, accessed September 22, 2026)(en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 22, 2026)
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
How Lac Vieux Desert is stocked
About 4,131 reported fish per acre, the most of 22 lakes in Vilas County with both a fish count and a surface area.
Fish stocked in 2011
37,142
Fish stocked in 2012
25,000
Fish stocked in 2013
36,055
Fish stocked in 2014
105,373
Fish stocked in 2015
325,710
Fish stocked in 2016
901,754
Fish stocked in 2017
1,060,451
Fish stocked in 2018
956,786
Fish stocked in 2019
1,400,781
Fish stocked in 2020
54,159
Fish stocked in 2021
755,400
Fish stocked in 2022
1,562,146
Fish stocked in 2023
1,012,402
Fish stocked in 2024
1,840,136
Fish stocked in 2025
1,800,699
Stocking history
| Date | Species | Quantity | Avg. length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | 1,800,000 | 0.5 in | report |
| 2025 | Muskellunge | 699 | 11.2 in | report |
| 2024 | Walleye | 40,136 | 7.09 in | report |
| 2024 | Walleye | 1,800,000 | 0.5 in | report |
| 2023 | Muskellunge | 402 | 11 in | report |
| 2023 | Walleye | 1,012,000 | 0.25 in | report |
| 2022 | Walleye | 1,502,000 | 0.3 in | report |
| 2022 | Walleye | 60,146 | 7.36 in | report |
| 2021 | Walleye | 755,000 | 0.3 in | report |
| 2021 | Muskellunge | 400 | 12.3 in | report |
| 2020 | Walleye | 54,159 | 6.88 in | report |
| 2019 | Muskellunge | 781 | 11.2 in | report |
| 2019 | Walleye | 1,400,000 | 0.3 in | report |
| 2018 | Walleye | 916,000 | – | report |
| 2018 | Walleye | 3,523 | 8.2 in | report |
| 2018 | Walleye | 37,263 | 6.38 in | report |
| 2017 | Muskellunge | 451 | 10.8 in | report |
| 2017 | Walleye | 1,060,000 | – | report |
| 2016 | Walleye | 43,849 | 7.66 in | report |
| 2016 | Walleye | 7,905 | 7.3 in | report |
| 2016 | Walleye | 850,000 | 0.3 in | report |
| 2015 | Muskellunge | 710 | 11.8 in | report |
| 2015 | Walleye | 325,000 | 1 in | report |
| 2014 | Walleye | 105,373 | 2.48 in | report |
| 2013 | Walleye | 10,000 | 6 in | report |
| 2013 | Walleye | 24,980 | 2 in | report |
| 2013 | Muskellunge | 1,075 | 9.2 in | report |
| 2012 | Walleye | 25,000 | 1.7 in | report |
| 2011 | Walleye | 10,000 | 6 in | report |
| 2011 | Muskellunge | 2,148 | 9.2 in | report |
| 2011 | Walleye | 24,994 | 1.8 in | report |
Access and facts
- Water type
- natural lake
- Nearest town
- Phelps, WI
- Facilities
- restrooms, dock, camping
Wisconsin-side ramps: DNR's public access (2 concrete lanes, dock, portable toilet, ADA-accessible dock and parking) and the Forest Service ramp at Lac Vieux Desert Campground on the west shore (vault toilets, water). A carry-in at the Wisconsin River's source sits 250 m from its lot.
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources before you go.
About Lac Vieux Desert
Nearest lakes
Camping near Lac Vieux Desert
Campgrounds within 15 miles of Lac Vieux Desert's mapped point, nearest first: Kentuck Lake camping (11.7 miles), Clark Lake Pavilion camping (12 miles), and Anvil Lake camping (13.7 miles), each with its own campground page on campgroundsdb.com.
Straight-line distances.
Common questions
What fish are at Lac Vieux Desert?
Fishing Lac Vieux Desert usually means Walleye: Walleye accounts for 23 of 31 plants on record, ahead of Muskellunge. Walleye was last stocked 2025, averaging 3.5 in. Muskellunge was last stocked 2025, averaging 10.8 in. Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Yellow Perch, plus 5 more are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Lac Vieux Desert stocked?
Last stocked 2025. It is stocked about 2.1 times a year since 2011. About 4,131 reported fish per acre, the most of 22 lakes in Vilas County with both a fish count and a surface area.
How big are the fish stocked at Lac Vieux Desert?
Stocked fish average 5.6 in. Walleye average 3.5 in. Muskellunge average 10.8 in.
How do you get on Lac Vieux Desert?
The nearest town is Phelps, WI. Facilities include restrooms, dock, and camping. Wisconsin-side ramps: DNR's public access (2 concrete lanes, dock, portable toilet, ADA-accessible dock and parking) and the Forest Service ramp at Lac Vieux Desert Campground on the west shore (vault toilets, water). A carry-in at the Wisconsin River's source sits 250 m from its lot.