A1 Gypsy Villa Resort
Eagle River
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Eagle River sits on the Eagle chain, ten lake basins joined by channels, including Catfish Lake, about 980 acres, and Eagle Lake. The chain runs south-east to the Three Lakes chain, where Planting Ground Lake covers about 1,010 acres.
West of Eagle River on Highway 70, St. Germain sits between Big St. Germain, about 1,620 acres, and Little St. Germain. Lodging is mostly family cabin resorts rented by the week. Muskie, walleye, bass and panfish are the main fish.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Stay in Eagle River for the town and the Eagle chain, in St. Germain for Big and Little St. Germain, or at Three Lakes for the quieter southern chain.
19 places to stay
Eagle River & the Eagle chain
Resorts, lodges and campgrounds on Catfish, Cranberry, Eagle, Yellow Birch and the other chain lakes, and on the lakes north of town toward Conover.
Big Bass Resort
Eagle River
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Chain O' Lakes Camping Resort
Eagle River
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Chanticleer Inn
Eagle River
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Eagle River Inn & Resort
Eagle River
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Eagle Waters Resort & Supper Club
Eagle River
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Edgewater Inn & Cottages
Eagle River
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Hi-Pines Campground
Eagle River
From $3,050 / season · 2026
Hiawatha Lodge & Resort
Eagle River
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Lake Forest Resort
Eagle River
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Maple View Resort & Campground
Conover
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Peaceful Pines Resort
Eagle River
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Pitlik's Sand Beach Resort
Eagle River
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Timberlane Resort
Eagle River
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Twelve Pines Resort
Eagle River
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Venn's Woodland Resort
Eagle River
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Wild Eagle Lodge
Eagle River
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Wildwood Outdoor Adventures and Campground
Eagle River
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Wildwood Resort of Eagle River
Eagle River
From $1,150 / week · 2026
21 places to stay
St. Germain
Resorts and cabins on Big and Little St. Germain, Lost, Found and Pickerel lakes along Highway 70.
Bayview Resort Cottages
St. Germain
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Cedaroma Lodge Resort
St. Germain
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Chamberlain's Eagle View Resort
St. Germain
From $155–$170 / night · year not stated
East Bay Cabins
St. Germain
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Elbert's Resort
St. Germain
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Fath's Big Woods Resort
St. Germain
From $1,100–$2,660 / week · 2026
Heeler's Quiet Comfort Cabins
St. Germain
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Hillcrest Cottages
St. Germain
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Idle Hours Resort
St. Germain
From $870–$3,470 / week · 2026–27
Jackson's Lakeside Cottages
St. Germain
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Lofty Pines Resort
St. Germain
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Lynn Ann's Campground
St. Germain
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Nolans' Nook & Nest Resort
St. Germain
From $800–$900 / week · year not stated
Northland Resort
St. Germain
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Rustic Manor Motor Lodge
St. Germain
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Serenity Bay Resort
St. Germain
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Sunrise Acres Resort
St. Germain
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The Birchwood Resort
St. Germain
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The Whitetail Lodge
St. Germain
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Twin Waters Resort
St. Germain
From $495–$2,495 / week · 2026
Whispering Pine Lodge
St. Germain
From $818–$4,173 / week · 2027
5 places to stay
Three Lakes
Resorts and cabins on the Three Lakes chain: Planting Ground, Big Stone, Townline and the other connected lakes.
A Lot of Lakes Resort
Three Lakes
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Bay Pines Cottages
Three Lakes
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Peyer's Paradise Resort
Three Lakes
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Rustlewood Resort
Three Lakes
From $1,295–$2,195 / week · year not stated
Stone Lake Resort
Three Lakes
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II. On the water
What a guided day costs
| Boat | Full day | Typical | Half day | Typical | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | $450 | $450 | $350 | $350 | 1 |
| Guide boat, up to 3–4 anglers | $400 | $400 | $275 | $275 | 1 |
"Typical" is the median of published rates. Most operators don't put a year on their rates.
Independent guides
Lodges that run their own guides are listed with the lodges above.
| Guide | Full day | Half day | Boat | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al's Guide Service (Al Gall)Eagle River | Call | – | walleye, muskie, northern pike, trout | |
| Bill's Guide Service & Scenic Boat ToursEagle River | Call | – | muskie, walleye | |
| Christina Truppe Musky Guide ServiceSt. Germain | Call | – | muskie | |
| Colin Crawford's Guide ServicePhelps | Call | – | walleye, northern pike, muskie, bass, panfish | |
| JG OutdoorsEagle River | $400 | $275 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | muskie, walleye, crappie, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, perch |
| Ken Jackson Guide ServiceSt. Germain | Call | – | muskie, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, panfish | |
| Matt Ebert Guide ServiceEagle River | $450 | $350 | Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | muskie, walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, panfish |
| Pertile's Up North Guide Service (Jason Pertile)Three Lakes | Call | – | walleye, panfish, crappie, muskie, northern pike, bass | |
| Pete's Guide ServiceEagle River | Call | – | muskie, walleye, panfish | |
| Rob Manthei Fishing Guide ServiceSt. Germain | Call | – | walleye, muskie, bass | |
| Ryan Bock's Guide ServiceThree Lakes | Call | – | walleye | |
| Sugs Fishing LLC (Gus Mantey)Eagle River | Call | – | muskie, smallmouth bass, walleye | |
| Tadpoles SportsEagle River | Call | – | ||
| Wallhanger Musky Guide Trips (Josh Kreger)Eagle River | Call | – | muskie | |
| White's Woods & WatersSt. Germain | Call | – | walleye, smallmouth bass, muskie |
III. The almanac
Seasons at a glance
- May 2, 2026Walleye, pike, largemouth bass and muskie seasons open.
- June 20Smallmouth bass harvest opens.
- December 31Muskie season closes.
- March 7, 2027Walleye, pike and bass seasons close.
- March 14, 2027Ice shelters must come off the ice each day when not in use.
Fishing dates are from the Wisconsin DNR's 2026–2027 regulations.
IV. Regulations
Fishing rules
2026–27 season (May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027)
- Vilas and Oneida counties are in the Ceded Territory. Walleye: May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027; 3 a day from 15 to under 20 inches, and one may be over 24 inches, unless a lake rule below says otherwise.
- Eagle Chain (Catfish, Cranberry, Duck, Eagle, Lynx, Otter, Scattering Rice, Voyageur, Watersmeet and Yellow Birch lakes combined): only walleye under 14 inches may be kept, except one over 18 inches.
- Three Lakes Chain (Big, Big Stone, Deer, Dog, Fourmile, Island, Laurel, Long, Medicine, Planting Ground, Rangeline, Spirit, Townline, Whitefish and the other connected lakes): walleye of any length, but only one over 14 inches.
- Little St. Germain: muskie 50-inch minimum. Found Lake: walleye 18-inch minimum. Big Sand Lake: muskie 50-inch minimum; 25 panfish, no more than 5 bluegill and pumpkinseed over 7 inches. North and South Twin lakes: muskie 50-inch minimum.
- Muskie on other lakes: May 2 – December 31, 2026, open water only; 1 a day, 40-inch minimum. Northern pike: 5 of any length, May 2, 2026 – March 7, 2027.
- Bass (Northern Bass Zone): largemouth may be kept from May 2 and smallmouth from June 20, 2026, to March 7, 2027; 5 combined, 14-inch minimum. Catch and release at other times.
- After Sunday, March 14, 2027, ice shelters on inland waters north of Highway 64 must come off the ice each day when not in use.
From the Wisconsin DNR's Guide to Hook and Line Fishing Regulations 2026–2027: general inland waters, Ceded Territory walleye rules, and the Vilas and Oneida county special regulations. Ceded Territory walleye limits can be lowered on single lakes during the year, so check the notice at the landing and the DNR site before you fish.
V. Asked at the dock
Questions people ask
How much does a fishing guide cost around Eagle River?
A guide boat for 1–2 anglers runs $450–$450 for a full day. A guide boat for up to 3–4 anglers runs $400–$400 for a full day. Rates are per boat, not per person.
What are the walleye rules on the Eagle River chain?
On the Eagle chain lakes you may keep only walleye under 14 inches, except one over 18 inches, within the Ceded Territory limit of 3 a day.
What are the walleye rules on the Three Lakes chain?
Walleye of any length may be kept on the Three Lakes chain, but only one may be over 14 inches, within the Ceded Territory limit of 3 a day.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: North Twin Lake looking north from a private dock on the south shore, Lightburst, CC BY-SA 4.0; Eagle River Wisconsin, Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 2.5; Lost Lake in Vilas County, Markheffron2, CC BY-SA 3.0.
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