Little Trout Lake Fishing
A 1,007-acre Wisconsin lake in Vilas County, down to 98 feet.
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Little Trout Lake, the essentials
Little Trout Lake covers 1,007 acres in Vilas County, according to the WDNR Find a Lake record. The WDNR gives a maximum depth of 98 feet, with a mean of 25 feet. Groceries and gas are in Lac du Flambeau, 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)). The DNR walleye layer lists recruitment as natural reproduction and stocking equal. Trout regulations cover it as classified trout water. It is a ceded territory lake for walleye limits. WDNR lists muskellunge, smallmouth bass, walleye, largemouth bass, panfish and trout for it. Boaters use 1 public boat landing. Clarity from satellite data averages 9.6 feet (2017).
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WDNR rates each fish group in Little Trout Lake as abundant, common or present.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Musky | Common |
| Smallmouth Bass | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Largemouth Bass | Present |
| Panfish | Present |
| Trout | Present |
On Little Trout Lake the walleye source is natural reproduction and stocking equal. Musky in Little Trout Lake fall under natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2).
Fishery outlook for Little Trout 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 Trout Lake
- Little Trout Lake Access1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, Lac du Flambeau Tribal
Nearby ramps for Little Trout Lake
- Alder Lake AccessAlder Lake, 2 miles northeast
- Wild Rice Lake AccessWild Rice Lake, 2 miles east
- Upper Sugarbush Lake AccessUpper Sugarbush Lake, 3 miles southwest
- Ike Walton Lake AccessIke Walton Lake, 3 miles southeast
- Dead Pike Lake Access 1Dead Pike Lake, 3 miles northwest
- Little Star Lake AccessLittle Star lake , 3 miles north
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
Little Trout Lake clarity and bottom
Bottom makeup at Little Trout Lake: 50% sand, 15% gravel, 5% rock, 30% muck.
Little Trout Lake is a seepage lake (no inlet or outlet stream; fed by groundwater and rain).
The DNR lists rainbow smelt as invasive species in Little Trout Lake. Never move live bait or water from it.
Posted ordinances for Little Trout Lake address houseboat regulations, speed limits (mph), water exhibitions and races, water skiing restrictions, slow-no-wake areas, water ski drop-off/pick-up area.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Limits by species on Little Trout Lake
The rows below come from the WDNR Lake Regulation record for Little Trout Lake, season by season.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 18" 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. |
General WDNR note for Little Trout 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 Trout 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 Trout Lake
From 2023 through 2024 the DNR logged 2 stockings in Little Trout Lake totaling 14,621 fish.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Lake trout | yearling | 7.2 in | 7,522 |
| 2023 | Lake trout | yearling | 7.5 in | 7,099 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Nearby lakes and Little Trout Lake in one table
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Trout Lake | 1,007 | 98 | 1 | complex two story | |
| Zee Lake | 1 mile southwest | 25 | 23 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Bolin Lake | 1 mile north | 67 | 35 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Big Crooked Lake near Lac du Flambeau, Vilas County | 2 miles south | 394 | 87 | 0 | complex two story |
| Alder Lake, Vilas County | 2 miles northeast | 264 | 30 | 1 | complex cool dark |
| Upper Sugarbush Lake | 2 miles southwest | 141 | 29 | 1 | complex two story |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Places near Little Trout Lake
Wisconsin lakes around Little Trout Lake
- Zee Lake1 mile southwest
- Bolin Lake1 mile north
- Big Crooked Lake near Lac du Flambeau, Vilas County2 miles south
- Alder Lake, Vilas County2 miles northeast
- Upper Sugarbush Lake2 miles southwest
Where anglers buy bait around Little Trout Lake
- Townline Sportssporting goods store, Manitowish Waters, 3 miles
- River's Edge Lodge & Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Manitowish Waters, 4 miles
- Greer's Pier Marinamarina, Manitowish Waters, 4 miles
- Jacks Jigsbait and tackle shop, Boulder Junction, 10 miles
- Northern Highland Sports LLCsporting goods store, Boulder Junction, 11 miles
- We Tie It Fly Shopfly shop, Boulder Junction, 11 miles
Home bases for a trip to Little Trout Lake
- Lac du Flambeau7 miles
- Boulder Junction10 miles
- Mercer11 miles
County guides for Little Trout Lake
- Vilas Countyseat: Eagle River
Piscifun picks matched to Little Trout Lake
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Species you may hook at Little Trout Lake
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Knepp Timothy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Questions anglers bring up about Little Trout Lake
Which WDNR region covers Little Trout Lake?
It sits in Vilas County, WDNR Northern Region, about 7 miles from Lac du Flambeau.
How large and deep is Little Trout Lake?
WDNR lists 1,007 acres and 98 feet at the deepest.
Is there a public boat landing on Little Trout Lake?
The WDNR maps 1 mapped landing; start with Little Trout Lake Access.
What can a Wisconsin angler catch in Little Trout Lake?
Expect muskellunge (common), smallmouth bass (common), walleye (common), largemouth bass (present), panfish (present) and trout (present).
Does Little Trout Lake have its own WDNR regulations?
The Walleye, sauger and hybrids entry reads The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
Can out-of-state visitors fish Little Trout Lake on a Wisconsin license?
Classified trout water calls for a Wisconsin fishing license ($20 resident, $55 nonresident a year) and the $10 inland trout stamp when you fish for trout.
Is Little Trout Lake a seepage or drainage lake?
Satellite clarity about 9.6 feet (2017). Bottom: 50% sand, 15% gravel, 5% rock, 30% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: seepage.
Which tackle shop on our list is nearest Little Trout Lake?
Try Townline Sports, around 3 miles off.
Does the WDNR stock fish in Little Trout Lake?
The 2024 record lists 7,522 lake trout.
Plan a Wisconsin lake day on Little Trout Lake
Read the lake rules above, then pick a landing.