Big Sand Lake, Vilas County Fishing
A 1,427-acre Wisconsin lake in Vilas County, down to 56 feet.
Pick for muskyPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Eagle River: Chris Rycroft, CC BY 4.0
Big Sand Lake, Vilas County at a glance
Find a Lake puts Big Sand Lake, Vilas County at 1,427 acres, inside Vilas County. Maximum depth on file is 56 feet, with a mean of 16 feet. Eagle River is the nearest community, about 16 miles away. The DNR manages it from the Northern Region. Biologists sort it into the complex cool dark lake class.
Musky anglers will find it on the DNR list, natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2). Ceded territory walleye rules apply here. Species on record are panfish, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, walleye, largemouth bass and northern pike. You can put in at 1 public boat landing. Satellite readings put average clarity near 8.3 feet (2017).
For the musky herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 Fish the WDNR rates in Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
For Big Sand Lake, Vilas County, Find a Lake gives each fish group an abundance rating.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Panfish | Abundant |
| Musky | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
| Northern Pike | Present |
The DNR files Big Sand Lake, Vilas County musky as natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2).
The class profile behind Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
“Complex cool dark lakes can often support quality or action walleye fisheries, and can have great action fisheries for yellow perch, and have the potential to produce quality northern pike and muskellunge fisheries.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Trailering to a landing on Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
- Big Sand Lake Boat Launch1 lane, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Program Supervisor
Landings within a short drive of Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
- Long Lake RampLong Lake, 1 mile northwest
- Smoky Lake RampSmoky Lake, 2 miles northeast
- Robinson Lake Access near Eagle RiverRobinson Lake, 3 miles southeast
- Long Lake Carry-in AccessLong Lake, 3 miles west
- Spectacle Lake RampSpectacle Lake, 4 miles south
- Kaine Lake AccessKaine Lake, 4 miles southeast
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Clarity, bottom and depth at Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
Big Sand Lake, Vilas County has a bottom that is 60% sand, 15% gravel, 15% rock, 10% muck, according to WDNR.
The DNR calls Big Sand Lake, Vilas County a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
WDNR records these invasives in Big Sand Lake, Vilas County: chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil and purple loosestrife. Drain water and remove plants at the landing.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Keeper rules for Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
Seasons, size limits and daily bags below are copied from the WDNR entry for Big Sand Lake, Vilas County.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length is 15", but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20" to 24" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 24" is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3. |
| Muskellunge and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 50" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Northern pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | June 20, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Largemouth bass | May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Smallmouth bass | May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026 | Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only). |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25, 25 panfish of any size may be kept, except 5 or fewer can be bluegill and pumpkinseed over 7 inches. |
| Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Lake sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Cisco and whitefish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Bullheads | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Rough fish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
WDNR attaches this general rule to Big Sand Lake, Vilas County: Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with 1 hook, bait, or lure per angler, and 3 hooks, baits, or lures maximum per boat.
For all of Vilas County the guide reads: Vilas County is in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded territory information). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (one hook, bait or lure per person; three lines maximum per boat), Northern Bass Zone rules apply (see page 12).
Zone check for Big Sand Lake, Vilas County: north of Hwy 10, Northern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Stocking records for Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
Between 2023 and 2023, 2 recorded releases put 3,642 fish into Big Sand Lake, Vilas County.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Muskellunge | large fingerling | 11 in | 143 |
| 2023 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7 in | 3,499 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
How Big Sand Lake, Vilas County compares nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sand Lake, Vilas County | 1,427 | 56 | 1 | complex cool dark | |
| Long Lake, Vilas County | 2 miles west | 886 | 88 | 2 | complex two story |
| Smoky Lake | 2 miles northeast | 612 | 60 | 1 | complex two story |
| Robinson Lake, Vilas County | 3 miles southeast | 34 | 20 | 1 | simple cool clear |
| Norwood Lake | 4 miles northwest | 116 | 50 | 0 | complex two story |
| Kaine Lake | 4 miles southeast | 49 | 5 | 1 | simple cool dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Around Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
Lakes a few miles from Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
- Long Lake, Vilas County2 miles west
- Smoky Lake2 miles northeast
- Robinson Lake, Vilas County3 miles southeast
- Norwood Lake4 miles northwest
- Kaine Lake4 miles southeast
Bait and gear stops around Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
- The Fishermans Outpostbait and tackle shop, Conover, 13 miles
- The Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, Land O Lakes, 13 miles
- Northern Waters Angling & Archerybait and tackle shop, Conover, 13 miles
- Boat Sport Marinamarina, Eagle River, 14 miles
- R & M Musky Shopbait and tackle shop, Eagle River, 18 miles
- Patriot Baits And Jigsbait and tackle shop, Three Lakes, 20 miles
Towns close to Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
- Eagle River16 miles
- Three Lakes20 miles
- Long Lake21 miles
The county side of Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
- Vilas Countyseat: Eagle River
A Piscifun kit for Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Sport fish found around Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Ryan Somma, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Before a trip to Big Sand Lake, Vilas County, the short answers
Where is Big Sand Lake, Vilas County on a Wisconsin map?
The lake lies in Vilas County, WDNR Northern Region, about 16 miles from Eagle River.
What maximum depth does the WDNR list for Big Sand Lake, Vilas County?
Find a Lake gives 1,427 acres and 56 feet at the deepest.
How many landings does Big Sand Lake, Vilas County have?
1 mapped landing; Big Sand Lake Boat Launch is the largest.
What species are in Big Sand Lake, Vilas County?
panfish (abundant), muskellunge (common), smallmouth bass (common), walleye (common), largemouth bass (present) and northern pike (present), per the WDNR.
What are the walleye rules on Big Sand Lake, Vilas County?
Walleye, sauger and hybrids rule: The minimum length is 15", but walleye, sauger, and hybrids from 20" to 24" may not be kept, and only 1 fish over 24" is allowed. The daily bag limit is 3.
What does a Wisconsin license cost for a trip to Big Sand Lake, Vilas County?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
What is the bottom of Big Sand Lake, Vilas County like?
Satellite clarity about 8.3 feet (2017). Bottom: 60% sand, 15% gravel, 15% rock, 10% muck. WDNR class: complex cool dark. Type: drainage.
Is there a tackle store near Big Sand Lake, Vilas County?
The Fishermans Outpost is nearest at 13 miles.
Is Big Sand Lake, Vilas County a stocked lake?
Yes; the latest WDNR record is 2023: 143 muskellunge and 3,499 walleye.
Make a weekend of Big Sand Lake, Vilas County
Wisconsin license costs and limits are one click away.