Where do you fish?

I’m just curious to see where you fish and where you are from. There seems to be a lot of people
who look at the posts but don’t reply. I wish there were more people who respond to the areas that
I have questions about. I live in western Wisconsin and fish mostly in Polk county.

I hear ya! We’re always digging for input but it is slow to come by. The best thing we can do is PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE! FTL is pretty young but has plenty to offer. However, if we don’t the people introduced to it and all the good stuff it can bring, it’ll continue to be a slow grow. I talk to buddies about it all the time and yet they don’t jump on! I think it’s because they feel like you have to be a fanatic or fishhead junkie to talk fishing! I really do! “Boy, you sure spend a lot of time on that website.” Well………..yes I do! It’s how I get the where, when, what, and how. Sometimes even the why! I keep encouraging them and maybe someday they’ll feel the right kick in the head and get on board. We simply need more participants. What we do have is so scattered that the info is sparce. I expect things to keep improving, but WEEEEE need to keep working at that.

As for where I fish in WI, I do Mallelieu, Wapogassett, Big/Little Yellow, Long, Fireside, Potato, Chippewa Flowage, Bass, Perch, …………….the list grows! I want to do more Polk co. fishing so I’ll be looking to bounce ideas and experiences with you in the weeks and months to come.

What do you fish for mostly? I tend to be a bass/panfish fisherman yet my biggest interest lies with pike/muskie. Walleye is great but that’s a river thing for me……….I just like it better on moving water.

I’m from Chippewa Falls and I mostly bass fish (smallmouth more than largemouth) and try to do a little musky fishing. I fish all over NW wisconsin in chippewa, barron, sawyer and washburn counties. I also make it over to the mississippi on pool 4,5 & 5A several times. If you have questions about anywhere I fish I will surely try to help you out.

I love to ice fish for crappies and I’m just starting to get the hang of trying to catch walleyes under the ice.
When the ice is gone I like to fish for panfish early and once mid summer comes it’s almost nothing but muskies.
I like anykind of fishing to be honest. Do you ice fish on Wappogasset much? I need some help when it comes to
catching walleyes on Wappogasset. Thanks

I fish a lot of waters around Menomonie like Menomin,once in a while Tainter,
Red Cedar River, Love the Chippewa,Wissota,Dells Pond,Altoona,Popple,Island
Mississippi River,Bone Lake,Big Round,and a lt of others up towards Long. I havent
fished Wappy in a while.I also fish some lakes up by Cumberland or over by
Phillips (Musser Flowage).Steve

My experience on Wappy has only been bass and panfish. However, I have walleye info about some spots on the lake, just haven’t got around to trying them. In the early spring, when the water is still clear to 10′ or so, I’ve been able to watch them in some areas too but never got after ’em. Dad and I got into a school of slab gills and grabbed the ultralights!! The only time I happen into them is when working the weed bar with a crawler tipped black/chartreuse tube jig right around sundown. Never boated more than 3 doing this. Like I said, I do have other info so maybe we could do some “learning” together this summer? I’ll trade you my limited walleye info for a muskie chase!!! I’ll even bring the food/beverages!

Ken

I could do that. I’ve actually tried for muskies on Wappo a couple times without success. Had one blow up
on a topwater lure last year. I did catch about a 20 pound pike that I know was at least 40″ long. Had him next
to the boat and he got off before we could measure him.

live by Baldwin. Fish mostly Polk Co and St Croix Co. Some St Croix River but more Mississippi. Sorry I was late to post. —-Pax

I wonder if that pike was the same girl I saw 4 years ago on the opener? The water was SUPER clear and we got into the 90’s. Fish in the shallows like crazy, gathering up those rays and looking for a fresh meal! Dad and I drifted over this pike that was an EASY 36″ and looked to be in that 20# area. I tried offering a temptation or two and only managed to spook her. Had I known before the boat passed overhead, who knows what kind of tussle we’d a had?! Caught a bundle of 3+ pound bass in that same area that day!

Where do you most commonly chase your muskies? I’ve been hearing a lot about the Apple River lately………..ever go there?

when i go with my neighbors i go to yellow river that is in burnett county great.

I usually fish a bunch of different lakes. Kind of depends on boat traffic. I will fish Bone, Deer, Cedar,
Big Blake. I fish a branch of the Apple called the Black Brook Flowage. It’s hard to fish. Didn’t catch any
fish there last year. I’ve never been on the main part of the Apple. I know there are some monsters in
there but I just don’t know how to fish it.

I got on the Apple near Somerset once this last summer and I’ve concluded that I will return there again. I didn’t catch anything but I witnessed a nice fish working a feeding flat! It was wary of me………….so a little better “surprise” and I’m willing to bet a smile would quickly follow!

I will get on it closer to Amery this year……….early in the season before she chokes out from all the vegetation. I good friend of my dad’s who fishes musky a lot got spooled by a fish near Amery! If they can do that to Bubba, they belong in a photograph with one of us musky chasers! What I find, I will certainly share. Maybe it’ll turn into another good option near home?

Gimpy, that Yellow is a great fishery. Check the FTR post I wrote for you!

I’m new to FTL. Saw this post and thought I’d share some. I live in the La Crosse area now but hail from Wausau, WI originally. My folks have a place on Seven Island Lake north of Gleason. Great musky lake for those interested. Good all summer too. Give it a shot.

Thanks for the input fishfan and welcome to the site! I tend to get near Wausau frequently so I just might have to give Seven Island a try sometime! Is there a map of the water available or some tips you could share for those muskies?

Sorry for the slow response stillakid2. I’ve been out for a couple of days. Actually, I have a map of the lake on hand. See attached. I’ve merged the map into a MSWord file. Hope you can read it. I got this from the DNR website. If you’re looking for others as well, check it out. The muskies are all over this lake. Got a 54″ 6 years ago. In the spring, troll the deeper water at the east end of the lake. Once the vegetation comes in there are cabbage weed beds off all of the islands. A bucktail works, but my personal favorite is a blue Heddon “Super Spook”. The rattle drives ’em nuts. My brother and I catch ’em all summer but when it gets warm you’ve got to throw them something flashy and do it over and over until you make them mad. I’m planning to do some night fishing for the big guys this summer. I hear it can be real productive since the boat traffic stops and you can fish by ear. I can’t wait. It would be nice to take a few out of the lake as the walleye population has suffered a bit in recent years due to the numbers and the relatively small size of the lake. Still, there are some nice walleye holes to work and a couple of cribs that are kind of hard to find. Last few years have produced some nice largemouth too. And here’s a tip for you. Don’t let anyone tell you there are no smallies in there. I got a 19″ and 17″ right off the dock last summer. Finally, check the map and you’ll see a very narrow and very shallow stream leading to Snake Lake. There are VERY few people fishing this little hole so if you up for a canoe ride (nothing else will get in there) into that one there are some nice surprises waiting in there. I won’t spoil it for you by saying more. Hey, there has to be a little mistery right? Good luck.

OK. I guess a word file won’t work. I’ll try to find the jpg. Look for it later.

Here’s a pic for you.

Beauty.

Is that the mystery? Great catch! I need to get some pic’s like that!!! I’ll definitely look that lake map up! I also have an old aluminum 14′ boat………..ya think that could snake back into the “mystery pond” with a trolling motor? She floats awfully shallow and is not wide.

Thanks for the info! You’ve got me droolin’!!!

Hey gang:

I have fished all over the state. I have been lucky enough to have gone to school in Menomonie and fished all of leiniemen’s waters. I worked on Tainter and fished it, Menomin and the Red Cedar all the way down to the Chip. River. I used to take my little jonboat up and fish the Apple, Bone, Wap, Balsam, Round, the Turtles, White Ash, and others I have forgotten. We used to fish most of the trout streams in that area over to the Rush and Kinnie.

I have a great friend who lives in the Hayward area and have fished Nelson, Namekagon, Round and the Tiger Cat Flowage. I am aching to get out on Grindstone, LCO, and the Chip.

I grew up in the Madison area and fished those lakes. While there I spent the majority of my time spin fishing the trout streams of NE Iowa, SW Wisconsin and SE Minnesota.

I currently live in the Minocqua area and spend most of my time on that chain. fishfan, I have spent most of my time fishing walleye and musky after dark and it does not get any better than that. Currently I have been spending my time getting to know Trout Lake in Vilas County and so far this year have iced & released a 25″ 7# walleye, and 2 – 28″ lake trout.

Since I have moved up here, I have had the opportunity to catch some nice muskies and last summer put a friend’s 13 year old on a 30″ walleye after trying for some muskie. GOD, I LOVE TO FISH!!!

I have spent some time recently trying to figure out Old Man River. I have a friend who lives in Trempealeau and we are getting to know the pools down from Alma for ducks and walleyes.

If anyone is interested in coming to the Northwoods to fish, I would be happy to put you in touch with lake maps, guides to help you with your trips and lodging for your stay. I have been trying to get a couple of the local guides to post to FTL and will continue to try to get them on as I think that FTR & FTL are two of the better resources to look over on the NET. Check out the fishing reports on lake-link.com if you haven’t for postings from lakes and rivers from all over Wisconsin and further.

I have read great stories spun by the river rats and FTL’ers for the past three years and marvel at the finesse and information these guys are willing to put on the web. I have fished with Jarrad Fluekiger and am trying to set up with him again this spring as well as James for a Milles Lacs trip this fall. Good luck to all and if your ever in this area I would be more than happy to help put you in touch with your needs!!!

Mark “Muskie Ben” Benson

Yep! That’s the mystery. The crappies and bass are in there too. I afraid your 14 footer won’t go through the channel to Snake Lk though. The last time I went in with a canoe, I actually had to get out and drag the thing through the channel it was so shallow. Like I said, it’s not fished much. This is why. Hope you get a chance to go. Good luck.

Ohhh…….I’ll get a chance to go alright! Can you project how the fishing is in mid-June, mid-July, and/or mid-August? I’ll be in the Wausau area one weekend each month. I wouldn’t be opposed to going all 3 times but wouldn’t mind some seasonal strategies if you happen to have any. If you’d rather share the info in a private message, please……….send me one! I’d love to catch some “mysteries”, and of course, release them after the photo so you can tangle with them too!

No need for secrets. The crappies are better early in the summer. Bass turn on after that and are good most of summer. The musky in the pic was a fall fish but you can find them through the summer too since there’s lots of shade and shoreline cover. Bring lots of stuff to throw and be prepared to catch a few logs. Good luck!

Big Beans! BIG………….COOL…………BEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I live in Eau Claire and grew up in Pepin. I fish mainly Lake Pepin but also fish Lake Altoona and this year Lake Wissota and Namekagon Lake. Mainly for walleyes and smallies.