Chippewa Flowage?

this cool air is signaling Muskie time for this guy. I’m spending the 21st thru the 24th chasing skies on the famed Chip Flowage.
Louis Spray’s record is in serious trouble: NOT!
Staying at Johnson’s resort on Moore’s Bay. Looks like the W fork of the Chip River empties into that area. Want to target some SM bass also. Any tips for a newbie? I hear there are lots of lower unit eating rocks that roam the Flowage.

I like to troll Jakes in 20 to 30 feet of water. Put a tiger tube in your prop wash, if you use this tactic.

whisker,
I’m don’t think motor trolling is legal on the flowage.
WI DNR regs say nothing about motor trolling on the flowage. If it’s legal on a particular body of water the brochure usually states it.
I’d rather pitch for them anyways.

Steve buddy! Motor trolling is permitted on the Chip. Flowage. There’s a TON of water and possibilities out there so anything could be the winning decision but don’t discard this muskie finding fact: The more water you cover, the more fish you’ll find. Guys catch plenty casting and trolling up there but I’d be tempted to go with the trolling. Cast for your smallies with fairly large bass baits and you may get an active muskie anyway but as long as the water’s warm, speed triggers strikes and I’d at least try some trolling. You’re on trophy waters….. give it everything!

Last time I was up to Yellow, I got a 17″ smallie on a mid-sized muskie bait…… ANYthing can happen!

Stillakid2: You’re wrong about trolling on the flowage, it is not permitted. As you know, motor trolling is not allowed in general in Wisconsin, with, of course, a lot of exceptions. The flowage is not one of them. Here’s a link to the regs (unfortunately, it’s a PDF file):

WI hook and line regs

The Sawyer county regs are on page 38. Note that there are some lakes in Sawyer county where trolling is permitted (Grindstone, LCO, Big Chetac, Round, Nelson , Whitefish, Windigo), but these are all noted specifically in the regs as expections. There is nothing in the Flowage paragraph that permits trolling.

In some of the other area counties, trolling is permitted county-wide (Bayfield, Washburn, Rusk, Burnett) but Sawyer county is not one of them.

WE ARE GOING UP THE 14TH FOR A WEEK AND MOTOR TROLLING IS PROHIBITED ON THE CHIP. I BELEIVE IT STATES THAT RIGHT AT THE BOAT LANDING. THEY (OTHER MESSAGE BOARDS) EVEN COMPLAIN ABOUT USING AN ELECTRIC TROLLING MOTOR TO POSITION YOUR BOAT. AS FOR FISHING THE CHIP I LIKE PETE’S BAR BOTH BIG AND LITTLE PETE FOR ALMOST EVERY THING BASS, CRAPPIE AND WALLEYE. USUALLY YOU HAVE TO DRIFT TO LOCATE THEM. IF I DO ANY GOOD I’LL LET YOU KNOW. <////><

Chippewa Flowage and the Chip River trolling is prohibited. Not on Lac Courte Oreilles though, that you can troll.

I was pretty sure it was not allowed. I read the regs. b-4 I posted. It seemed that if m. trolling was allowed it was the first thing mentioned for a particular body of water.
Not knowing the water very well and having my wife along I think I will try to stay close to the resort. Having the Chip river empty into Moore’s Bay sounds real intriguing to me. Current, rock, islands….

SteveO:

Try this link to Hayward Lakes on http://www.fishinginfo.com. It will give you a great forum to ask questions from very knowledgable people in Hayward. Go to the fishing reports, next the Wisconsin, then scroll down to the Hayward area. There are two threads. Good luck with them big toothy critters.

Mark

SteveO:

I found your thread on the link. Good for you. My wife’s family stayed at Indian Trails. If you follow any of the musky reading by John Dettloff, I think he is the owner. Interesting dude.

Mark

I’ve heard of John Detloff. I may run over to his place to have a beer. The tips that Corey gave me sound pretty solid on that other forum. Should be a great couple of days.

OOPS! I stand corrected. Last time I was on this water I was a guest and guess what we did? I didn’t give it a second thought because in spite of the regs, all the sections of the Chippewa that I’ve looked into fishing permits motor trolling. That’s Rusk and Chippewa counties and Rusk is a county wide motor troll acceptance, which I fish quite regularly. My opinion doesn’t understand this law. A lure is a lure, so why is it so negative to drag one behind the boat as a method of presentation? Or is this their way of trying to limit the 3 lines ruling? One man, two sucker rigs, and an artificial for combing. As long as you aren’t asleep, they’re all attended lines……… I just don’t get it.

Sorry about the misinfo SteveO! Show us a pic of the 50+ you grab!