The Chippewa river is putting out some good multi specie action right now. After the great spring weather we have been having, I guess we were due for a rain day.
We keyed in on the classic river spots of current breaks, slack water and deeper holes.
fishing the front of deeper holes provided the best action for the day. This location, typically holds the biters. Which it did today. The areas that had at least a 4 or 5 foot depth change off the drop seemed to be the best. Those area held good numbers of smallies, rock bass, snot rockets, and eyes.
A vertical presentation of doo’s or jigs tipped with minnows both worked well. The best bite and bigger fish came on the plastic.
I did get one picture before the rain started. This was the best eye of the day, taped at 25.5
Nice report and picture Don. I have never fished the Chip and you certainly make it more appealing.
Don,
I have never fished the Chip, what is the bottom content like ?
Mostly a hard bottom, rock and sand. The middle and lower section of the river is shallow with a fast current.
Are you able to put your big rig in ? It looks like the front end of a flat in your pic ?
It sounds like a lot of fun to fish…Similar to the Wisconsin River down by me
When the water is up like it is now, you can put a bigger rig in. I was using my jon boat/jet drive today.
I fish the Chippewa all the time. It is like my second home. It is a great place to fish for small mouth, eyes and northerns. I also found in some of the backwaters the perch are huge. If you take a look at my reports I’ve been catching some nice 10-14″ perch in the backwaters. I fish from Eau Claire to Lake Pepin. If you guys need some tips or anything on some locations please feel free to ask and I’ll do the best I can to let you know what’s goin on and biting. The Chippewa is a great multi fish species river.
As far as boats go anything 16′ with a 25-40hp is good for my area I fish. Like I said Eau Claire to Lake Pepin. Lots of tricky spots and you better know the river or you start wrecking stuff. Trust me, I’ve been there done that.
Oh also anyone that wants to try it, I’m willing to let you trade a day in the boat with me for somewhere else.
Good report Don, my last outing consisted of catching white suckers which was a lot of fun but couldn’t get the eyes to bite. We will have to hit it sometime. Did you try upstream near Sabatsion (sp) pool. Steve
I love fishin the Chip, where about were you?
Krisko,How far up from the Mississippi going north do you have to go to find some smallmouth action on the Chippewa.
Welcome to the site Ghostzapper! To answer your question, about 2 feet. The Chippewa is loaded with smallmouth and so it the Mississippi. The Chippewa does have it’s hot spots. As far as the lower parts I have found a lot of smallmouth on the fallen trees in the river and also on the sand dropoffs. You can use anything just about to catch them. You can use live bait, crawlers work really good in the middle of summer and early fall. You can use them on jigs or Lindy rig them or use them on a jig. Jointed Rapalas or Chug bugs work good too. I also use a variety of plastis and jigs. So the choice is yours. I do really good on the smallmouth just south and north of Durand and up near Caryville and Meridean.
Thanks for the insite. I heading to the river on Sunday and Tuesday I’ll try to venture up into the Chippewa and try some flukes or jigs around some laydowns or depth changes.
Thanks
Welcome to IDA Ghostzapper!!!
Hi Joe I’m shore fishing around the Dunnville area. Steve