I’ll go ahead an resurrect this one again. I just moved over to this stretch over by the “Main street” bridge (not sure if it’s called something else). Would be nice if I happened into a decent place to fish close to home. I know it’s shallow just by driving by it but I got a surface drive duck boat and I’m pretty used to small water (within reason). I’m excited to get back to “western WI” spent a few years in Menomonie awhile back so interested in hearing if anybody knows what the 2020’s have brought to this stretch of river. Is it still decently close to what this thread would suggest?

If anyone needs another person to tag around with let me know, got all my own gear and secret spots stay secret. Keep ur lines tight.

We just started using one of these this year, my buddy got it from his pops, no body used it thought it was too slow. We’ve been having great success with it just taking out rib bones. You have to take a few swipes on fish over 24″ but as previously stated for “eaters” you really can’t beat it.

For those saying it’s slow, it really isn’t if you’re just using it for ribs. My new method is the fastest I’ve ever been with the most meat consistently I’ve ever got.

I use the skinner, an electric knife with straight blades and a regular filet knife. I take the fillets off the fish first down to 1/2″ on the tail both sides with the electric, then use the skinner to take the ribs out, then slice or “zip” the lateral bones out with two swipes while the fillet is still on the skin. Then I use the tail as a handle to remove the skin with the electric knife. I use the electric for skin because I don’t like the silver skin the skinner leaves on the fillets. I used to just flip the fillet skin side up and run a knife between the ribs on the table but the Townsend is just much better and faster. These things are great.

Thanks for the information krisko, I got a buddy coming up next week with a serious duck setup so we can navigate with a big river runner and 37hp mud motor. It will be interesting to see if the holes you guys talked about are still there. Ill be sure to post everytime I get out. I’m hoping after the initial trip I’ll be able to run the small boat with more confidence. Hopefully it hasn’t filled in as one big shallow flat! I did see a guy pull out from the highway H launch the other day with a 14′ and outboard didn’t get a chance to talk to hime though. Thanks again for the information.

I know this thread is over a decade old but I’m new to the area and have yet to fish the Chip, I was wondering about depth of the river? I know you guys are running around with 14′ boats but I have a 16′ sea nymph, wondering if I can launch anywhere on the southern half by Durand? I have a smaller river runner 14′ boat with a mud motor but I would rather use the big boat when the weather is cold like this more comfortable and safe.

Any specific depth information is appreciated. Is I guess was now lol, but was there a main channel that you can shallow drive up with an outboard? Or is it pretty much a no go with a larger v hull?