Five musky lakes to try this season

North of Highway 10, the musky fishing season opens the Saturday before Memorial Day. This region offers some of the best musky lakes on the planet—anglers can choose from thousands of lakes, ranging in size from a few hundred acres to several thousand.

Where’s an angler to begin? Here are five of Wisconsin’s top musky lakes, in no particular order.

Boulder Lake

At just 524 acres, Boulder Lake isn’t the biggest lake in Vilas County. However, this gem of a lake produces some big muskies every year. When the northern Wisconsin musky fishing season opens in late May, this is a great lake to launch your fishing boat. Learn more about fishing in the Boulder Junction area.

Big St. Germain Lake

Another lake to fish during the musky season opener is Big St. Germain, which sits near Vilas County’s southern border with Oneida County. This lake is legendary for its great musky fishing, but you’ll also find lots of smallmouth bass and walleye. The 1,617-acre lake is 42 feet deep and provides consistent fishing action throughout the summer. Get Vilas County fishing info.

Rainbow Flowage

This 3,153-acre impoundment of the Wisconsin River is one of the largest bodies of water in northern Wisconsin. Its musky fishery matches its size. The dark-stained water tends to warm earlier than some other area lakes, making it a great place to fish during the early musky season. Find out more about fishing in Oneida County.

Boom Lake

Boom Lake is another impoundment of the Wisconsin River. Located just downstream from the Rainbow Flowage, Boom Lake has a strong reputation as a musky producer. A number of annual musky tournaments are held on this lake in the heart of Rhinelander. Get Rhinelander Area fishing info.

Lake DuBay

A 10-minute drive north of Stevens Point takes you to one of the best fishing spots in the state. Lake DuBay is another impoundment of the Wisconsin River and covers 6,830 acres. The lake is home to walleye, smallmouth bass, panfish and, of course, musky.