Big Arbor Vitae Lake, at 1,090 acres, is not only fairly big water, it’s a producer of big fish. In fact, “Big Arb” is known as one of the best fish-producers in Vilas County. “Big Arb” makes the “A-List” of Harland Carlson, Vilas County fisheries manager for the Wisconsin DNR. According to Carlson, Big Arb is home to an abundant Musky population, and that population includes some large fish. This observation is borne out by the experience of anglers, many of whom have had excellent success on this lake and have been known to tie into some trophy fish: 30-pounders and up. Simply put, Big Arb is one best Musky waters around in terms of numbers. So if Musky action is what you’re after, don’t pass this lake by. Big Arb, though, is not known only for Musky. Carlson considers the lake one of the best in Vilas County for Walleye action, and he notes there are high numbers of keeper-size fish. Truly large Walleyes aren’t numerous in Big Arb’s 41-foot depths, but some trophy fish are caught every year, and seldom does a Walleye angler depart Big Arbor Vitae disappointed. Guide Tommy Zinda of Tommy’s Fishing Adventures, Woodruff, calls Big Arb “the Amazing One” for its ability to produce Walleyes summer after summer and still support an excellent winter fishery for 6- to 8-pound fish. He says the future of the Walleye fishery looks bright, too, with a bag limit on fish over 14 inches. This will protect sexually mature fish, says Zinda, and provide a trophy fishery in the year 2000 and later. Zinda suggests working the coontail on the west shore of North Bay, near the creek mouth for Muskies, and he says the rock and gravel of the bay’s west shore hold ample numbers of Walleyes at the 25-foot level in summer. There’s also cabbage along the south shore, and Center Bar should be worked for all species. Lucia Bay and shallow Mielke Bay contain great Muskie habitat, says Zinda. At this writing, there was a 1-bag limit on Walleyes over 14 inches, but no minimum length limit. Check current Wisconsin regs before fishing. You’ll find three good landings on Big Arb. The best of the bunch is in the park on the north side. Thanks to Tommy Zinda of Tommy’s Fishing Adventures, P.O. Box 1327, Woodruff,
WI 54568 (715) 356-4648.
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