Kentuck Lake

Kentuck Lake

Size
1000ac
Boat Launch
Yes
Carry-in Launch
No
Toilet
No
Boat Dock
No
Species in Kentuck Lake
Bluegill
Bluegill
Brook trout
Brook trout
Crappie
Crappie
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Muskellunge
Muskellunge
Northern pike
Northern pike
Perch
Perch
Pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
Rock bass
Rock bass
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
Walleye
Walleye

Kentuck Lake Overview

Quality muskie, above average bass, muskie, perch and crappie featured.

Fishing Regulations in Kentuck Lake

Special Fishing regulations: This lake has special fishing regulations that differ from statewide or border water regulations for those species identified below and take precedence. Regulations listed below are currently in place. Visit the fishing regulations page for links to upcoming regulations for specific lakes.

Special Waterbody Regulations

  • 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 http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/questions/troll.html. 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.

Special Species Regulations

  • Largemouth bass: May 4, 2024 to June 14, 2024: The minimum length limit is 18” and the daily bag limit is 1.
  • Cisco and whitefish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
  • Bullheads: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited.
  • Walleye, sauger, and hybrids: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: 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.
  • Rock, yellow, and white bass: 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.
  • Round goby: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
  • Ruffe: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
  • Shovelnose sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
  • White perch: Open All Year: The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a wdnr office.
  • Catfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10.
  • Panfish: Open All Year: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 25, 25 panfish may be kept, but only 10 of any one species.
  • Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass: April 1, 2024 to May 3, 2024: The minimum length limit is 18” and the daily bag limit is 1.
  • Smallmouth bass: May 4, 2024 to June 14, 2024: Fish may not be harvested (catch and release only).
  • Lake sturgeon: Closed: No fishing allowed.
  • Muskellunge and hybrids: May 25, 2024 to December 31, 2024: The minimum length limit is 40” and the daily bag limit is 1.
  • Northern pike: May 4, 2024 to March 2, 2025: No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5.
  • Trout: See specific regulations: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/trout/.
  • Paddlefish: Closed: No fishing allowed.

Kentuck Lake Features

Kentuck Lake is a smaller lake that is located in Vilas/Forest County 12 miles to the east of Eagle River. This lake provides an excellent opportunity and has a good reputation for producing a fair number of mid-sized muskie in the 40 to 46 inch range. With its quality beds of vegetation the lake also provides good fishing for anglers interested in other species such as walleye, bass or even some nice sized perch. Kentuck Lake has a great musky fishery with a decent number of fish from 40 to 46 inches taken by anglers. In a recent creel survey done by the DNR a large number of fish recorded ranged in size from 36 to 44 inches. Kentuck has the potential to produce muskie in the 50-inch range if given more conservative protection than a 40-inch size limit. A few fish around 47 to 49 inches do swim in this lake but aren’t as prevalent. Fall offers the best opportunities to catch larger size fish. Kentuck Lake offers a decent walleye fishery that has a lot of fish in the in the 12 to 14 inch range. In a recent creel survey that was conduct a fair number of walleye ranged in size from 15 to 19 inches with some over 20. The largest of the fish produced in the survey was a fish over 27 inches showing that the lake does have the potential to produce quality walleye. Since walleye numbers are up in recent years this has had an effect on the decline of the largemouth, smallmouth and crappie populations. There are still a fair number of bass in the 2 to 4 pound range with the potential to catch a bass over 5 pounds. Most crappie in the lake range in size from 9 to 11 inches but crappie that are 13 inches in size are taken.
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Fish Species

Bluegill
fish
3-9 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
1.36
0Statewide Range38.665

Kentuck Lake Bluegill abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
Brook trout
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Crappie
fish
5-13 in
Length Range
8 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
1.65
0Statewide Range1.11

Kentuck Lake Crappie abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
Largemouth bass
fish
8-9 in
Length Range
9 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
Muskellunge
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
2.13
0Statewide Range6.49

Kentuck Lake Muskellunge abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized muskellunge based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
201750
201549
Northern pike
fish
No survey data
Abundance (CPUE)
No survey data
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
No Survey Data
Perch
fish
6-10 in
Length Range
8 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Above Avg.
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.05
0Statewide Range0.74

Kentuck Lake Perch abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
Pumpkinseed
fish
4-8 in
Length Range
6 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.93
0Statewide Range0.36

Kentuck Lake Pumpkinseed abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
Rock bass
fish
5-9 in
Length Range
7 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Outlier
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.48
0Statewide Range0.31

Kentuck Lake Rock bass abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
Smallmouth bass
fish
8-18 in
Length Range
13 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
High
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
Walleye
fish
12-27 in
Length Range
21 in
Length Range
2023
Surveyed
Abundance (CPUE)
Low
2023
Surveyed
Trapnet
Catch Method
0.07
0Statewide Range0.82

Kentuck Lake Walleye abundance

Average range for similar lakes

Understanding Abundance

Abundance ratings are based on Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) measurements conducted by the MN DNR, and represent a snapshot of a species population at a given point in time.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Survey cadence may vary by state and water body.
Species Lengths
Trophy Potential
This lake has a history of supporting trophy sized muskellunge based on past surveys.
Survey YearLargest Fish (in)
201750
201549