My inlaws are looking to purchase a lot on a lake. They are open to most areas of WI or MN. They arent much for fishing but know that my family most likely wont come up if the lake doesnt support a good walleye population. So my question is which of these two spots would be a better walleye lake year round? Also any input on other stuff on the lakes…beaches,bars ets. Thanks
My personal choice would be in the Chip Flowage, but my impression is that Wissota is over crowded…
I fish both every year. Wissota is close to Eau Claire so “running into town” for shopping or dining out is easier. Quite a bit of recreational traffic on the lake. But it also supports a good walleye population. Most of the shore line is inhabited with cabins and houses.
The Chip Flowage is just the opposite. It’s 20+ minutes to Hayward from most locations and Hayward isn’t exactly a metropolis. Very few houses and cabins on the flowage. The scenery is 2nd to none. It has a very “Canadian” feel to it. You can spend a lifetime on the Chip and never fish all of the potential ‘hot spots.’ Very little recreational traffic. On any given day, you can catch 4 to 5 different species of fish.
My two cents…Nothing beats the Chippewa Flowage!
Good luck.
JD 
If you’re looking to fish year round dont get the cabin on the Chippewa, the walleye fishing shuts off right around dec 1. The lake usually doesnt get ice-fished unless its cold early. It is a far better lake than wissota for both beauty and fishing but if you want “year round” fishing than take a close look at the lake specific regs on the chip before you buy.
Im more of a open water guy for walleyes and I usually ice fish for crappies. Ive never even seen either lake with the exception of google earth. Im just excited the inlaws are keeping fishing in mind when looking for a place. Sounds like the chip is a little more what id be looking for. Are both of these lakes in the no trolling area? That rule sucks!
Never been on the Chip, so don’t know about it, but trolling is allowed on Wissota. Wissota also has a 14-18″ protected slot and is in the ceded territory that is allowed to be speared, so depending on what lakes get declared for spearing the daily bag limit may change. Lately it has been 3 walleye with only one over 18″, but it was announced as only two fish at the start of the season and once the numbers are in, it was raised to 3.
Again, no experience with the Chip, but the big issue for me is the algae bloom that hits Wissota. Last year there were places where the water had the consistency of chocolate milk except it was green. There was also a blue algae and I was talking to the warden on the water one day and he said not to let your kids or dog in the water as the blue stuff could cause blindness.
I do hear people say that the Chip is over-rated, but mostly regarding Musky. I think the current record is from there and folks claim it may be living off its reputation and is not the same musky fishery that it once was. Again, no experience, just hearsay.
My 2 cents,
Dave
the chip is a great body of water, but for ice fishing the only thing you can fish for is bluegill and perch from Dec. 1- first sunday in march, after that everything is closed, including panfish and crappie until the walleye opener, just so you know.
Good luck,
Tanner Wildes
The nice thing about the chip is that if you don’t like the rules on the chip there are hundreds of other lakes nearby that are very good for any species you can think of.
The Chip hands down for me, but if the rules don’t suit ya, try Grindstone, LCO or Round as you can troll on all three of them and then go to the Chip or the other lakes if you would like. There are actually a couple other smaller lakes that can be trolled as well. Upper St. Croix River, Namekagon River in the area and Lake Superior an hour away…
Mark
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