Catfish Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin — fishing destination

Vilas County • North Wisconsin

Fishing Catfish Lake, Wisconsin

A prominent lake in the Eagle River Chain of 28 Lakes in Vilas County. Catfish Lake's weed flats, channels, and shoreline cover hold musky, walleye, bass, and panfish — a classic Northwoods chain fishery. Country Cave Baits injection-pours premium soft plastic baits built for the bass, panfish and walleye that call Catfish Lake home.

621 acres Max depth 28 ft Vilas County

About Catfish Lake

Catfish Lake is located in Vilas County in North Wisconsin and is one of the state's premier fishing destinations. Anglers visiting Catfish Lake target Musky, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie and Bluegill throughout the open-water season. Whether you're fishing from a boat or the shore, Catfish Lake offers diverse structure and productive water that responds well to injection-poured soft plastic baits from Country Cave Baits — made right here in Fall River, WI.

Fish Species in Catfish Lake

Musky Walleye Largemouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Crappie Bluegill

Landmarks & Points of Interest

Boat Launches & Access

Best Baits for Catfish Lake

Our top-recommended Country Cave Baits for fishing Catfish Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Each is injection-poured in Fall River, WI and shipped fresh to your door.

5 Inch Fluke for fishing Catfish Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin

$4.95

Weightless wild action

5 Inch Fluke

Our 5-inch fluke dances with an erratic, darting action on a weightless Texas rig. The soft, slim body glides and slashes through the water column, imitating a fleeing baitfish that bass simply cannot resist.

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4 Inch Craw for fishing Catfish Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin

$6.25

Flip, pitch & punch

4 Inch Craw

A full-bodied 4-inch craw with aggressive kicking claws that thump on the retrieve. Built thick to hold up through dozens of fish, this bait excels flipped into heavy cover or dragged on a jig head.

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5 Inch Stick Worm for fishing Catfish Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin

$5.95

The versatile workhorse

5 Inch Stick Worm

Our 5-inch stick worm is injection-poured with a soft plastic that shimmies on the fall and drives bass wild. Perfect for wacky rigging, Texas rigging, or a weightless presentation in shallow cover.

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1.2 Inch Crappie Slayer for fishing Catfish Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin

$6.50

Slab crappie magnet

1.2 Inch Crappie Slayer

Our 1.2-inch Crappie Slayer is a micro tube designed specifically for slab crappie. The tiny ribbed body and flowing tail seduce panfish into biting when the bite is tough. Rig it on a small jig head under a float or tight-line it vertically. It's also a deadly ice fishing bait — drop it through the ice to suspended crappie and bluegill all winter long.

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