Navigation
Subheadings

Lake Laura

Lake Laura is one of three lakes in the Star Lake area with a considerable number of private cottages. In addition, it has Deerfoot Lodge, an historic resort and deer hunting lodge.

In the recent years of low rainfall (2007-2009), Lake Laura receded considerably--so much so that the public landing can only accommodate boats that can be dragged to the shore and then across a bar separating the water and the landing from the open water of the lake (2010 observation). Unlike many other lakes in the area (including Star Lake), Lake Laura did not recover its previous water level in 2010. In 2021 it appeared to have fully recovered.

The DNR Website had the following overview: "Lake Laura is a 628 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 43 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from public boat landings. Fish include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Walleye. The lake's water clarity is moderate." Additional information form the site: Bottom: 70% sand, 10% gravel, 10% rock, 10% muck. Hydrologic Lake Type: SEEPAGE. Latitude, Longitude: 46.05703950, -89.43813190. Fish: Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Walleye. Trophic Status: Mesotrophic.

There are two boat landings on Lake Laura, one at the end of West Lake Laura Road and the other off of Deerfoot Road.

Charles P. Forbes
September 20, 2010
Revised: March 5, 2012 & June 25, 2022.

**** indicates no known author.

Major References

****. Atlas of Wisconsin. Milwaukee, 1878. View Full Entry
Bokern, James. Canoe Routes of the Chippewa. [M.S. Thesis] Stevens Point, 1987. View Full Entry (Full text available)
Garske, Steve. Phragmites on the Wane. [Mazina'igan, A Chronicle of the lake Superior Ojibwe, Winter 2019/2020, p.8] Odanah, 2019. View Full Entry (Full text available)
Jackson and Warye. St. Germain, Sayner and Star Lake etc.. Presque Isle, WI, 2004. View Full Entry
McKnight and Serns. A Summer Creel Census of Stormy, Black Oak and Laura Lakes, Vilas County. [Fish Management Section Report #71, January, 1974] Madison, 1974. View Full Entry
Nowood, et al.. Report of a Geological Survey of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. Philadelphia, 1852. View Full Entry
Owen, David Dale and Joseph G.Norwood. Report of a Geological Survey of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. Philadelphia, 1852. View Full Entry
Shultz et al.. Rehabilitation Plans for Ogaa Lakes of Concern. [Mazina'igan, A Chronicle of the Lake Superior Ojibwe, Summer 2022, Page 6, 14.] Odanah, 2022. View Full Entry (Full text available)

Minor References

****. Walleye Rehab Plan Proposed for Lakes in Oneida, Vilas County. [Mazina'igan, A Chronicle of the Lake Superior Ojibwe, Summer 2021, page 6.] Odanah, 2021. View Full Entry (Full text available)
Ellerman, Cecelia. Franklin Loves Remember Star Lake as Busy Logging Town. [Vilas County News-Review, [Unk date] 1969.] Eagle River, 1969. View Full Entry
Gillum, et al.. Low Water Levels Expose Fragile Habitat. [Living on the Lake, August/September 2010, p. 16] Rhinelander, 2010. View Full Entry
Malmgren, Carol. History of White Birch Village. [Ballard-Irving-White Birch Lakes Assn, Summer 2020 Newsletter, P. 6] Star Lake, 2020. View Full Entry (Full text available)
Surpless, Frank. Black Oak Lake. Watersmeet, 2008. View Full Entry (Full text available)
Wisconsin DNR. Vilas County Lakes Directory. [From Wisconsin Lakes, Wis. DNR PUB-FH-800 2001] Eagle River, 2002. View Full Entry

CREEL CENSUS 1974

A DNR creel census of Stormy, Black Oak, and Laura Lakes in Vilas County (1974) concluded that the average catch of all kinds of fish on all three likes combines was 0.66 fish per man-hour fished. McKnight and Serns.

WEED DIE-OFF.

"The widespread die-off of weeds in Lake Luara...was believed to have been caused by exotic crayfish." 1980, [Vilas County News-Review, as listed in the News-Review's Backward Glances, September 15, 2010.]

INVASIVE SPECIES

The DNR Invasive Species Inventory for Vilas County Lakes, shown under LINKS in this Topic, 2011, shows these invasive species in this lake: Banded Mystery Snails.

AIS BOAT INSPECTIONS

The DNR website provides this data for Lake Laura:

Year: 2010 / 2011 (both landings in 2011)

Boats Inspected: 3 / 9
People Talked to: 6 / 19
Manhours used: 2 / 12

Refer to the link "AIS Boat Inspections" in the DNR website.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND FUTURE FISH POPULATIONS

Study concludes Lake Laura's vulnerability to climate change is high and that it is likely to support naturally reproducing populations of walleye through this century. See: Mazina'igan; the bibliography entry quotes the Lake Laura data.