Fishing & Hunting

Fishing Information and Giudes

In the heart of Wisconsin's Vilas County, you will find The Edgewater Inn & Cottages is ideally located to plan your exploration with easy access to everything the Northwood's has to offer along with a few hidden gems, we will even let you in on the secret and tell you how to find many of them.  The destinations are endless!

Fishing

The Eagle River area and Vilas County boasts over 2500 lakes, rivers, and streams offering fishing adventure for musky, walleye, trout, panfish, smallmouth, and largemouth bass.

Fishing Report - FISHING WITH THE GUIDES with George Langley
 
 
FISHING WITH THE GUIDES with George Langley
Week of 10/26 to 11/2
We’re finally getting the fall weather we were wishing for at the beginning of October. The leaves are mostly down and the nights and mornings are cold. Water temperatures are now in the mid 50’s and dropping on area lakes. That steady drop will continue with the predicted weather and maybe some rain toward the end of the week. Turnover is taking place on some lakes and some of the smaller ones have already finished. Weeds are just about done on most bodies of water, and we’re seeing some true fall patterns – most days.
Walleye fishing on the Eagle River Chain has been good, but last week the fish were still kind of everywhere. Sometimes in the deep holes, as you’d expect, and then sometimes hanging a bit higher in the weed edges that they can still find. The best activity has been in 18–28 feet. Regardless of the lake, now is definitely the time to begin concentrating efforts around holes, sharper breaks, and the deep side of any remaining weed edges. Large fatheads and small suckers fished on jigs or under slip bobbers are working well. The bite windows are tightening with the cooling water, but when they open up - especially at the beginning and end of the day - the action is great.
Smallmouth bass, when you can find them, are hugging rocky structure and deeper gravel humps. Though the time to hunt for them is basically over, when you find them the best approach is subtle plastics, tubes, or live bait presentations. Largemouth are harder to find now also, and are holding near the last bits of weeds or buried in shallow wood in warmer water.
Northern pike are feeding aggressively, as they do this time of year with the cooling waters firing up their appetite. Spinnerbaits, spoons, and larger crankbaits continue to produce. We’ve heard of action in shallower bays that still hold some green weed growth. The fish will soon shift toward deeper water as those weeds collapse completely, so watch for that.
Panfish are continuing their slow migration to the deep water. Crappies are suspending over mid-depth brush or near old weed lines, while perch are moving into softer-bottom areas near deeper transitions. The perch bite on the Chain has remained good, with steady action reported all week. Bluegill are a bit more scattered but are being found on deeper flats using small jigs tipped with waxies or plastics.
Musky anglers have had some great days on the water this last week. Now is the time to look for those lakes that have already turned over to find a great fall bite, and with the cooling water it’s also finally a good time for suckers. Trolling large crankbaits over deeper structure or casting big rubber baits near drop-offs has been productive as well. As water temps drop further, we can expect muskies to move toward those classic late-season haunts and feed heavily.
It's time to get in all the soft water fishing that you need to get you through until spring, and to start getting the hard water fishing gear out and ready. It’s a quiet, peaceful time in the Northwoods, and one of the most rewarding times of the year to be outside and in a boat. Enjoy the last of it…now we start wishing for some nice, early ice!
Good luck and good fishin’!
Fishing Report - Scotties Bait and Tackle Video

SCOTTIES BAIT and TACKLE 3 LAKES WI
Video Report 17 Oct 2025  6pm
Link below
Scotties Bait and Tackle 3 Lakes WI

 
Fishing License

State of Wisconsin fishing licensees Available at:
Scottie’s Bait & Tackle
Last Cast Fishing Outfitters
Circle K

Wisconsin DNR Fishing Licenses
Fishing Guide and Services

Tadpoles Sports
Live Bait, Tackle & Guide Service
809 E. Wall St
Eagle River, WI 54521
715-479-6441

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Scottie’s Bait & Tackle
Full-service shop offering bait, fishing rods and reels, and live minnows, licenses, plus maple syrup and cheese
1674 Superior St
Three Lakes, WI 54562
715-546-3776

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Eagle Sports
Carries a full line of fishing tackle, equipment and live bait for musky, walleye, bass, northern and panfish along with fly
702 E. Wall St
Eagle River, WI 54521
715-479-8804

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Last Cast Fishing outfitters
Fishing shop for bait, tackle, and licenses, plus local fishing information
544 State Highway 155
St. Germain, WI 54558
715-542-4882

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Guide's Choice Pro Shop
Fishing shop for bait, tackle, and licenses, plus local fishing information
4315 E Wall St
Eagle River, WI 54521

715-477-2248

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Colin Crawford's Guide Service
Fishing Guide
P.O. Box 61
Phelps, WI 54554
715-891-2715

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Bill’s Guide Service & Scenic Boat Tours
Fishing Guide & Tours
1079 Hollister Woods Rd
Eagle River, WI 54521
715-479-7395

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Pertile's Up North Fishing Guide Service LLC
Fishing Guide & Tours
7335 Russell Road
Three Lakes, WI 54562
715-891-2098

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Hunting Information and Giudes

Hunting

The Eagle River area and Vilas County boasts over 2500 lakes, rivers, and streams along with Public lands. Grouse, woodcock, water fowl, deer and small game. 

Al's Guide Service
Fishing and Hunting is our business

Walleye, Musky, Northern,Bass, Pan-fish, Fly fishing for trout (wade of kayak trips)Fly casting instructions

Whitetail Deer & Grouse hunting

16549 Tuttle Road
Eagle River, WI 54521

715-545-2127

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Grouse Hunting
Vilas County hunting map

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Ready To Start Your Northwoods Adventure?