Ike Walton Lake Fishing
A 1,417-acre Wisconsin lake in Vilas County, down to 61 feet.
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About Ike Walton Lake
Count on 1,417 acres of lake water at Ike Walton Lake, which sits in Vilas County. Its deepest sounding is 61 feet, with a mean of 10 feet. The closest town on the Census list is Lac du Flambeau, roughly 7 miles off. WDNR places it in its Northern Region. WDNR calls it a complex warm dark lake by class.
The musky designation reads natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2). Walleye recruitment is natural reproduction and stocking equal on the WDNR layer. The ceded territory boundary takes it in. Anglers can look for largemouth bass, muskellunge, panfish, smallmouth bass and walleye, per the WDNR. 1 public boat landing serve the lake. Landsat estimates give about 8 feet of clarity (2017).
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The Ike Walton Lake fish groups below carry their WDNR abundance rating.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
| Musky | Present |
| Panfish | Present |
| Smallmouth Bass | Present |
| Walleye | Present |
WDNR walleye status for Ike Walton Lake is natural reproduction and stocking equal. Musky management at Ike Walton Lake: natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2).
What the lake class means for Ike Walton Lake
“Complex warm dark lakes often support great action fisheries for black crappie, and have potential to produced quality walleye, northern pike, and/or muskellunge fisheries.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Public ramps at Ike Walton Lake
- Ike Walton Lake Access1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Lac du Flambeau Tribal
More boat ramps around Ike Walton Lake
- Wild Rice Lake AccessWild Rice Lake, 2 miles north
- Little Trout Lake AccessLittle Trout Lake, 2 miles northwest
- White Sand Lake Access near Eagle River (WDNR 2003)White Sand Lake, 3 miles south
- Upper Sugarbush Lake AccessUpper Sugarbush Lake, 4 miles west
- Alder Lake AccessAlder Lake, 4 miles north
- Camp Lake Carry-In Boat LandingCamp Lake, 4 miles southeast
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
The water in Ike Walton Lake
The WDNR describes the bottom of Ike Walton Lake as 80% sand, 5% gravel, 5% rock, 10% muck.
In WDNR terms Ike Walton Lake is a seepage lake (no inlet or outlet stream; fed by groundwater and rain).
Confirmed invasive species at Ike Walton Lake include spiny waterflea. Inspect trailers before moving to another lake.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
WDNR rules posted for Ike Walton Lake
This table repeats the WDNR rule set filed under Ike Walton Lake.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit, but only 1 fish over 14" is allowed and the daily bag limit is 3. |
| Muskellunge and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 40" 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. |
| 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. |
A blanket rule for Ike Walton Lake: 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.
The guide adds for Vilas County: 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).
By map position Ike Walton Lake sits north of the Hwy 10 pike line and in the Northern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Measuring Ike Walton Lake against nearby water
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ike Walton Lake | 1,417 | 61 | 1 | complex warm dark | |
| Little Sand Lake, Vilas County | 1 mile southwest | 110 | 32 | 0 | complex cool clear |
| Wild Rice Lake | 2 miles north | 384 | 26 | 1 | complex cool dark |
| Elsie Lake | 2 miles south | 47 | 22 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Snort Lake | 2 miles northeast | 24 | 30 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Sunfish Lake, Vilas County | 2 miles southwest | 57 | 18 | 0 | complex warm clear |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Next to Ike Walton Lake
Nearby lakes to try after Ike Walton Lake
- Little Sand Lake, Vilas County1 mile southwest
- Wild Rice Lake2 miles north
- Elsie Lake2 miles south
- Snort Lake2 miles northeast
- Sunfish Lake, Vilas County2 miles southwest
Bait counters near Ike Walton Lake
- Townline Sportssporting goods store, Manitowish Waters, 4 miles
- Greer's Pier Marinamarina, Manitowish Waters, 6 miles
- River's Edge Lodge & Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Manitowish Waters, 6 miles
- Jacks Jigsbait and tackle shop, Boulder Junction, 9 miles
- Northern Highland Sports LLCsporting goods store, Boulder Junction, 9 miles
- We Tie It Fly Shopfly shop, Boulder Junction, 10 miles
Overnight towns handy to Ike Walton Lake
- Lac du Flambeau7 miles
- Boulder Junction9 miles
- Woodruff11 miles
Which counties Ike Walton Lake touches
- Vilas Countyseat: Eagle River
Reels and a scale grip to bring to Ike Walton Lake
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Photographs from waters near Ike Walton Lake
Photo: Chris Rycroft, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Gpwitteveen, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: NEON Science, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ike Walton Lake, answered in a line or two
What part of Wisconsin holds Ike Walton Lake?
You will find it in Vilas County, WDNR Northern Region, about 7 miles from Lac du Flambeau.
What size is Ike Walton Lake on the WDNR record?
1,417 acres and 61 feet at the deepest.
Where is the ramp on Ike Walton Lake?
1 mapped landing, including Ike Walton Lake Access.
Which fish live in Ike Walton Lake?
The DNR list shows largemouth bass (present), muskellunge (present), panfish (present), smallmouth bass (present) and walleye (present).
What daily bag limits does the WDNR post for Ike Walton Lake?
WDNR lists Walleye, sauger and hybrids as No minimum length limit, but only 1 fish over 14" is allowed and the daily bag limit is 3.
Do I need a Wisconsin license for Ike Walton Lake?
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 kind of lake is Ike Walton Lake?
Satellite clarity about 8 feet (2017). Bottom: 80% sand, 5% gravel, 5% rock, 10% muck. WDNR class: complex warm dark. Type: seepage.
Who sells bait near Ike Walton Lake?
Townline Sports, about 4 miles away.
Is Ike Walton Lake free of invasives?
Confirmed: spiny waterflea.
Mark Ike Walton Lake on the Wisconsin calendar
Licenses, stamps and statewide rules are on the license page.