sm gone on chippewa river

I fish lake wissota and the chippewa & yellow rivers connecting to it at chippewa falls, WI. Generally great sm fishing. But this year they didn’t spawn in their normal places. Not many big fish during the spawn. After the spawn, large fish have disappeared. Only catching 12-13″ buck bass.

If they are reabsorbing their eggs, where can I find them and what will it take to get them to bite? I have tried every location, (river, lake, flats, riffles, current, eddies, shallow, deep and etc.) no luck. HELPPPPPPPPPP!

Have you had the opportunity to check any springs that feed into the river? The Chippewa is so shallow at so many points of it’s journey that I think a lot of fish seek out the springs or spring fed tribs for a more suitable temp. I don’t know this for sure but I know some people who fish it frequently and they’ve mentioned to me that the springs are key to the fish you want.

Was there in middle of May and had a great time with smallies. Got there the day or two before they really started to turn on. We had 6 fish over 3lbs. Nothing over 4lbs. But the next day or two would have been the time to be there. Was a big lack of fish on south end of lake. My first time fishing it so may be there aren’t that many fish on that end. White tubes and silver rattletraps have been working on Milleacs arounf shallow boulders and rock humps. Also fish the bays off the main lake and the points and around the bridge. Good luck!

Have you been fishing the small lake.If not try mermaid island.It seems like

anytime I fish near that I always catch smb.I’m generally trying for walleye

but somehow I end up catching smallmouth around that Island.Throw right up into the shallows,keeping your boat back away from the island.For small mouth bass you can’t hardly miss fishing between the two dams slip bobber

and leech you should catch plenty fish around the island or go up towards dam and fish opposite side of river from boat landing floating raps.Lot’s of rocks so go upriver slow and drift back stay on boat landing side of river untill you see the dam then cut across.I’ll be on the small lake tonight and I’ll try around mermaid island.It’s close to work so will be on the lake by 4:00.

Tried fishing the small lake last night..Tried some drifting then went to

see if I could catch smallies by mermaid island.About the third cast

to the weed edge I caught one.Too many skiers,pontoons,jet boats,

jet skies to do any serious fishing so we left early.NO EYES stay with

the river between the dams,and I think it will be much better fishing.