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Wisconsin lakes

Star Lake, Vilas County Fishing

A 1,219-acre Wisconsin lake in Vilas County, down to 68 feet.

Get driving directions

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Photo of Eagle River: Chris Rycroft, CC BY 4.0

Vilas County

Star Lake, Vilas County, the essentials

Star Lake, Vilas County covers 1,219 acres in Vilas County, according to the WDNR Find a Lake record. The WDNR gives a maximum depth of 68 feet, with a mean of 23 feet. Groceries and gas are in Sayner, around 4 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 stocking plus natural reproduction. Water quality rules treat it as an Outstanding Resource Water. It is a ceded territory lake for walleye limits. WDNR lists muskellunge, panfish, walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike and smallmouth bass for it. Boaters use 2 public boat landings. Clarity from satellite data averages 13.2 feet (2017).

1,219acres

68 ftmaximum depth

2mapped landings

13.2 ftsatellite clarity

Directions to Star Lake WDNR Find a Lake page

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Fish

Fish the DNR lists for Star Lake, Vilas County

WDNR rates each fish group in Star Lake, Vilas County as abundant, common or present.

Fish group	WDNR abundance
Musky	Common
Panfish	Common
Walleye	Common
Largemouth Bass	Present
Northern Pike	Present
Smallmouth Bass	Present

On Star Lake, Vilas County the walleye source is stocking plus natural reproduction. Musky in Star Lake, Vilas County fall under natural reproduction plus stocking (cat. 2).

Fishery outlook for Star Lake, Vilas County 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.”

Muskellunge Panfish Walleye Largemouth bass Northern pike Smallmouth bass

WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.

Landings

Putting in on Star Lake, Vilas County

East Star Lake Campground Boat Landing1 lane, 1 to 5 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, NHAL Recreation Team Leader
West Star Lake Campground Boat Landing1 lane, boarding dock, restroom, NHAL Recreation Team Leader

Nearby ramps for Star Lake, Vilas County

Lone Tree Lake Carry-In AccessLone Tree Lake, 2 miles northwest
Lake Salsich AccessLake Salsich, 2 miles northeast
Lake Salsich Cart-in Boat LandingLake Salsich, 2 miles northeast
Razorback Lake RampRazorback Lake, 2 miles west
Aurora Lake RampAurora Lake, 3 miles west
Irving Lake Boat RampIrving Lake, 3 miles north

WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.

Water

Star Lake, Vilas County clarity and bottom

68 ftdeepest point

23 ftmean depth

13.2 ftsatellite clarity (2017)

drainagelake type

Bottom makeup at Star Lake, Vilas County: 75% sand, 10% gravel, 10% rock, 5% muck.

Star Lake, Vilas County is a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).

The DNR lists banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail, purple loosestrife, rusty crayfish and spiny waterflea as invasive species in Star Lake, Vilas County. Never move live bait or water from it.

WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.

Regulations

Limits by species on Star Lake, Vilas County

The rows below come from the WDNR Lake Regulation record for Star Lake, Vilas County, season by season.

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 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.
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 Star 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.

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 Star Lake, Vilas County 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.

All Wisconsin limits WDNR regulation record

Stocking

WDNR hatchery releases in Star Lake, Vilas County

From 2023 through 2023 the DNR logged 1 stockings in Star Lake, Vilas County totaling 305 fish.

Year	Species	Size	Avg length	Number
2023	Muskellunge	large fingerling	11 in	305

WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.

Compare

Nearby lakes and Star Lake, Vilas County in one table

Lake	Distance	Acres	Max depth ft	Landings	WDNR class
Star Lake, Vilas County		1,219	68	2	complex two story
Little Star Lake near Sayner, Vilas County	2 miles north	95	9	0	complex warm dark
Razorback Lake	2 miles west	381	35	1	complex cool clear
Lone Tree Lake	2 miles northwest	130	16	1	simple cool clear
Lake Salsich	2 miles northeast	49	38	2	simple cool clear
Plum Lake near Sayner, Vilas County	2 miles southwest	1,057	57	2	complex two story

WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.

Nearby

Places near Star Lake, Vilas County

Wisconsin lakes around Star Lake, Vilas County

Little Star Lake near Sayner, Vilas County2 miles north
Razorback Lake2 miles west
Lone Tree Lake2 miles northwest
Lake Salsich2 miles northeast
Plum Lake near Sayner, Vilas County2 miles southwest

Where anglers buy bait around Star Lake, Vilas County

Up North Tradersbait and tackle shop, Sayner, 3 miles
Last Cast Outfitterssporting goods store, St Germain, 8 miles
Northern Highland Sports LLCsporting goods store, Boulder Junction, 10 miles
Hawks Nest Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Eagle River, 10 miles
We Tie It Fly Shopfly shop, Boulder Junction, 10 miles
Jacks Jigsbait and tackle shop, Boulder Junction, 10 miles

Home bases for a trip to Star Lake, Vilas County

Sayner4 miles
Boulder Junction10 miles
Eagle River13 miles

County guides for Star Lake, Vilas County

Vilas Countyseat: Eagle River

Piscifun

Piscifun picks matched to Star Lake, Vilas County

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Fish ID

Species you may hook at Star Lake, Vilas County

Muskellunge, Wisconsin — Muskellunge
Photo: Engbretson, Eric / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain

Largemouth bass, Wisconsin — Largemouth bass
Photo: TMDSA, CC BY-SA 3.0

Bluegill, Wisconsin — Bluegill
Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0

Lake sturgeon, Wisconsin — Lake sturgeon
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain

Answers

Questions anglers bring up about Star Lake, Vilas County

Which WDNR region covers Star Lake, Vilas County?

It sits in Vilas County, WDNR Northern Region, about 4 miles from Sayner.

How large and deep is Star Lake, Vilas County?

WDNR lists 1,219 acres and 68 feet at the deepest.

Is there a public boat landing on Star Lake, Vilas County?

The WDNR maps 2 mapped landings; start with East Star Lake Campground Boat Landing.

What can a Wisconsin angler catch in Star Lake, Vilas County?

Expect muskellunge (common), panfish (common), walleye (common), largemouth bass (present), northern pike (present) and smallmouth bass (present).

Does Star Lake, Vilas County have its own WDNR regulations?

The Walleye, sauger and hybrids entry reads No minimum length limit, but only 1 fish over 14" is allowed and the daily bag limit is 3.

Can out-of-state visitors fish Star Lake, Vilas County 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 Star Lake, Vilas County a seepage or drainage lake?

Satellite clarity about 13.2 feet (2017). Bottom: 75% sand, 10% gravel, 10% rock, 5% muck. WDNR class: complex two story. Type: drainage.

Which tackle shop on our list is nearest Star Lake, Vilas County?

Try Up North Traders, around 3 miles off.

Does the WDNR stock fish in Star Lake, Vilas County?

The 2023 record lists 305 muskellunge.

Plan a Wisconsin lake day on Star Lake, Vilas County

Read the lake rules above, then pick a landing.

Wisconsin license and limits All Wisconsin lakes