Kentuck Lake Fishing
A 1,001-acre Wisconsin lake in Vilas County and Forest County, down to 40 feet.
Pick for muskyPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Pine Lake: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting acquainted with Kentuck Lake
The WDNR lists Kentuck Lake at 1,001 acres, a lake in Vilas County and Forest County. Depths reach 40 feet at the deepest spot, with a mean of 13 feet. In a straight line, about 13 miles separates the lake from Eagle River. Fisheries work here comes out of the Northern Region. Lake class on the WDNR layer reads complex two story.
Musky are managed here, listed as self-sustaining via natural reproduction (cat. 1). Its walleye come from stocking plus natural reproduction, per the WDNR. Walleye rules here follow the ceded territory standard. Fish on its WDNR list include muskellunge, panfish, smallmouth bass, walleye and largemouth bass. The WDNR access layer maps 2 public boat landings. WDNR satellite clarity is 9.1 feet for 2017.
For the musky herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 How abundant the fish are in Kentuck Lake
The DNR sorts the Kentuck Lake fishery into abundant, common and present groups.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Musky | Common |
| Panfish | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
Walleye at Kentuck Lake rely on stocking plus natural reproduction. The musky layer lists Kentuck Lake as self-sustaining via natural reproduction (cat. 1).
The WDNR class note for Kentuck Lake
“Complex two story lakes are able to support coldwater species – primarily cisco, and occasionally lake trout or lake whitefish. They have the potential to produce action and quality walleye fisheries.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Landings around Kentuck Lake
- Kentuck Lake Access 21 lane, more than 25 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, US Forest Service
- Kentuck Lake Ramp 11 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, Town of Phelps
Public landings near Kentuck Lake
- Spectacle Lake RampSpectacle Lake, 2 miles north
- Quartz Lake AccessQuartz Lake, 3 miles southeast
- Franklin Lake AccessFranklin Lake, 4 miles south
- Robinson Lake Access near Eagle RiverRobinson Lake, 4 miles northeast
- Anvil Lake AccessAnvil Lake, 5 miles southwest
- Three Johns Lake AccessThree Johns Lake, 5 miles south
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Depth and bottom of Kentuck Lake
Under the water, Kentuck Lake is 65% sand, 15% gravel, 20% rock, 0% muck, per the DNR.
Hydrologically, Kentuck Lake is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Kentuck Lake has these invasive species on file: banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, eurasian water-milfoil, purple loosestrife and rusty crayfish. Rinse gear before the next lake.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
The rule table for Kentuck Lake
WDNR lists these Kentuck Lake seasons and bag rules species by species.
| 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 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 18" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Largemouth bass | May 2, 2026 to June 19, 2026 | The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| 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, but only 5 can be yellow perch. |
| 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. |
The WDNR record for Kentuck Lake adds: This lake may be in more than 1 county. Follow the trolling regulations for the county in which you are fishing. A list of counties and waters that allow motor trolling with 3 hooks, baits, or lures per angler can be found at <a href="http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/questions/troll.html" target="_blank">http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/questions/troll.html</a>. All other waters allow motor trolling with 1 hook, bait or lure per angler, and no more than 2 hooks, baits, or lures per boat.
County text for Vilas: 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).
Kentuck Lake is north of US Highway 10 for pike, and in the Northern Bass Zone for bass.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Kentuck Lake stocking history
Kentuck Lake received 87,613 fish over 4 stocking records between 2024 and 2025.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | small fingerling | 2.17 in | 38,533 |
| 2025 | Walleye | large fingerling | 8.32 in | 10,015 |
| 2025 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.2 in | 4,785 |
| 2024 | Walleye | small fingerling | 2.1 in | 34,280 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Kentuck Lake beside its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentuck Lake | 1,001 | 40 | 2 | complex two story | |
| Spectacle Lake | 1 mile northwest | 166 | 35 | 1 | complex cool clear |
| Dewey Lake | 2 miles northwest | 48 | 11 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Imogene Lake | 2 miles west | 61 | 41 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Brule Springs | 2 miles southeast | 11 | 3 | 0 | simple trout pond |
| Sunfish Lake, Forest County | 3 miles south | 20 | 16 | 0 | simple warm dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
In reach of Kentuck Lake
Other Wisconsin lakes close to Kentuck Lake
- Spectacle Lake1 mile northwest
- Dewey Lake2 miles northwest
- Imogene Lake2 miles west
- Brule Springs2 miles southeast
- Sunfish Lake, Forest County3 miles south
Tackle shops a short drive from Kentuck Lake
- Boat Sport Marinamarina, Eagle River, 10 miles
- Northern Waters Angling & Archerybait and tackle shop, Conover, 13 miles
- The Fishermans Outpostbait and tackle shop, Conover, 13 miles
- R & M Musky Shopbait and tackle shop, Eagle River, 15 miles
- Patriot Baits And Jigsbait and tackle shop, Three Lakes, 15 miles
- The Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, Land O Lakes, 16 miles
Nearby Wisconsin towns for Kentuck Lake
- Eagle River13 miles
- Three Lakes15 miles
- Long Lake19 miles
County pages for Kentuck Lake
- Vilas Countyseat: Eagle River
- Forest Countyseat: Crandon
Gear from Piscifun for Kentuck Lake
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Shoreline scenes a drive from Kentuck Lake
Photo: Chris Rycroft, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Markheffron2, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Awkwafaba, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
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Quick facts people look up on Kentuck Lake
How far is Kentuck Lake from the nearest Wisconsin town?
In Vilas County and Forest County, WDNR Northern Region, about 13 miles from Eagle River.
How big is Kentuck Lake by the WDNR count?
About 1,001 acres and 40 feet at the deepest.
Which landing should I use to launch on Kentuck Lake?
Try Kentuck Lake Access 2, one of 2 mapped landings.
Does the WDNR list walleye in Kentuck Lake?
Find a Lake names muskellunge (common), panfish (common), smallmouth bass (common), walleye (common) and largemouth bass (present).
What can I keep from Kentuck Lake?
Walleye, sauger and hybrids, per WDNR: 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.
Is a stamp needed on Kentuck 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 lake class is Kentuck Lake?
Satellite clarity about 9.1 feet (2017). Bottom: 65% sand, 15% gravel, 20% rock, 0% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: drainage.
Where can I buy bait on the way to Kentuck Lake?
Closest on our list: Boat Sport Marina, 10 miles.
What has been stocked in Kentuck Lake?
In 2025, 38,533 walleye, 10,015 walleye and 4,785 walleye.
Put Kentuck Lake on this year's Wisconsin list
Buy a Go Wild license before the drive.