Little Saint Germain Lake Fishing
A 972-acre Wisconsin lake in Vilas County, down to 53 feet.
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Little Saint Germain Lake, the essentials
Little Saint Germain Lake covers 972 acres in Vilas County, according to the WDNR Find a Lake record. The WDNR gives a maximum depth of 53 feet, with a mean of 11 feet. Groceries and gas are in Sayner, around 7 miles from the water. On the WDNR map it belongs to the Northern Region. In the DNR lake classification it is complex two story.
It is on the WDNR musky waters list (natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2)). It is a ceded territory lake for walleye limits. WDNR lists northern pike, largemouth bass, muskellunge, panfish, walleye and smallmouth bass for it. Boaters use 1 public boat landing. Clarity from satellite data averages 6.6 feet (2017).
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WDNR rates each fish group in Little Saint Germain Lake as abundant, common or present.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Northern Pike | Abundant |
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Musky | Common |
| Panfish | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Present |
Musky in Little Saint Germain Lake fall under natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2).
Fishery outlook for Little Saint Germain Lake by class
“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.
Putting in on Little Saint Germain Lake
- Little Saint Germain Lake Boat Ramp1 lane, 6 to 10 trailer stalls, boarding dock, NHAL Recreation Team Leader
Nearby ramps for Little Saint Germain Lake
- Alma Lake RampAlma Lake, 1 mile east
- Wisconsin River – Hwy O AccessWisconsin River, 2 miles southeast
- Wood Duck Lake AccessWood Duck Lake, 2 miles northeast
- Rainbow Flowage – Stormy Landing Road. AccessRainbow Flowage, 3 miles southwest
- Wisconsin River – Hwy 70 AccessWisconsin River, 3 miles east
- Found Lake Public Access SiteFound Lake, 3 miles north
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Little Saint Germain Lake clarity and bottom
Bottom makeup at Little Saint Germain Lake: 70% sand, 15% gravel, 10% rock, 5% muck.
Little Saint Germain Lake is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
The DNR lists banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed and eurasian water-milfoil as invasive species in Little Saint Germain Lake. Never move live bait or water from it.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Limits by species on Little Saint Germain Lake
The rows below come from the WDNR Lake Regulation record for Little Saint Germain Lake, season by season.
| 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. |
| 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. |
General WDNR note for Little Saint Germain 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.
Vilas County note in the guide: 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).
The Hwy 10 pike line puts Little Saint Germain Lake on its north side; bass rows follow the Northern Bass Zone.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
WDNR hatchery releases in Little Saint Germain Lake
From 2023 through 2025 the DNR logged 2 stockings in Little Saint Germain Lake totaling 20,032 fish.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | large fingerling | 6.5 in | 9,683 |
| 2023 | Walleye | large fingerling | 6.9 in | 10,349 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Nearby lakes and Little Saint Germain Lake in one table
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Saint Germain Lake | 972 | 53 | 1 | complex two story | |
| Alma Lake | 1 mile east | 58 | 18 | 1 | complex cool clear |
| Moon Lake, Vilas County | 1 mile northeast | 131 | 38 | 0 | complex cool clear |
| Finley Lake, Vilas County | 2 miles east | 108 | 26 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Little Mamie Lake | 2 miles west | 16 | 12 | 0 | simple trout pond |
| Little Pickerel Lake, Oneida County | 2 miles west | 22 | 17 | 0 | simple warm dark |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Places near Little Saint Germain Lake
Wisconsin lakes around Little Saint Germain Lake
- Alma Lake1 mile east
- Moon Lake, Vilas County1 mile northeast
- Finley Lake, Vilas County2 miles east
- Little Mamie Lake2 miles west
- Little Pickerel Lake, Oneida County2 miles west
Where anglers buy bait around Little Saint Germain Lake
- Last Cast Outfitterssporting goods store, St Germain, 2 miles
- Hawks Nest Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Eagle River, 5 miles
- Up North Tradersbait and tackle shop, Sayner, 7 miles
- R & M Musky Shopbait and tackle shop, Eagle River, 8 miles
- Captain Hooksbait and tackle shop, Lake Tomahawk, 9 miles
- Lt Bait Incbait and tackle shop, Lake Tomahawk, 9 miles
Home bases for a trip to Little Saint Germain Lake
- Sayner7 miles
- Lake Tomahawk9 miles
- Eagle River10 miles
County guides for Little Saint Germain Lake
- Vilas Countyseat: Eagle River
Piscifun picks matched to Little Saint Germain Lake
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Species you may hook at Little Saint Germain Lake
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Hardyplants, CC0 1.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Questions anglers bring up about Little Saint Germain Lake
Which WDNR region covers Little Saint Germain Lake?
It sits in Vilas County, WDNR Northern Region, about 7 miles from Sayner.
How large and deep is Little Saint Germain Lake?
WDNR lists 972 acres and 53 feet at the deepest.
Is there a public boat landing on Little Saint Germain Lake?
The WDNR maps 1 mapped landing; start with Little Saint Germain Lake Boat Ramp.
What can a Wisconsin angler catch in Little Saint Germain Lake?
Expect northern pike (abundant), largemouth bass (common), muskellunge (common), panfish (common), walleye (common) and smallmouth bass (present).
Does Little Saint Germain Lake have its own WDNR regulations?
The Walleye, sauger and hybrids entry reads 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.
Can out-of-state visitors fish Little Saint Germain Lake on a Wisconsin license?
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.
Is Little Saint Germain Lake a seepage or drainage lake?
Satellite clarity about 6.6 feet (2017). Bottom: 70% sand, 15% gravel, 10% rock, 5% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: drainage.
Which tackle shop on our list is nearest Little Saint Germain Lake?
Try Last Cast Outfitters, around 2 miles off.
Does the WDNR stock fish in Little Saint Germain Lake?
The 2025 record lists 9,683 walleye.
Plan a Wisconsin lake day on Little Saint Germain Lake
Read the lake rules above, then pick a landing.