The first out-of-state fishing trip I ever took was to Yellow Lake near Webster, Wisconsin. At eight-years-old, I sat straight up the whole way there in the big backseat of Grandpa’s 1986 Cutlass Supreme. While smiling from ear to ear, I soaked in every mile and each new view. It was the first adventure in a line of many. More so than I can count. But it was the first, so it’s special. Wisconsin is special.
The weather is a big reason why Wisconsin is such a great summertime destination. Cool mornings and evenings persist throughout the season. Especially in the norther tier of the state. There is more water than one could cover in two lifetimes. From the Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, to the tiny southwestern streams of the Driftless Region, Wisconsin offers anglers an abundance of opportunities to experience world class fishing. These six are just a sampling.
Turtle Flambeau Flowage Musky
There’s nothing like fishing the Northwoods in summer. Families have been traveling to the Turtle Flambeau area to fish for generations. Musky aren’t the easiest fish to catch. They’re known as the fish of 10,000 casts, but catch one and you could be ruined for life. Fishing for musky is hot right after the season opens. Early June is a prime time. Throwing big musky baits is a laborious task, but when you hook one, you know you’ve just done something special. Land one and you’ll have a memory to last a lifetime.
Mississippi River Largemouth at La Crosse
Drive over the Mississippi River at St. Louis and you’d hardly believe largemouth bass live in “The Big Muddy.” The river looks a lot different up north than it does down south. Near La Crosse, it is an incredible fishery for bass, bluegill, northern pike, perch and more. In summer, largemouth stack up on points where the river braids or cuts back into bays. Spinnerbaits worked along weed lines will produce big number days in September. Panfish are found in the oxbows around brush and weeds.
Clear Lake Smallmouth
At nearly 900 surface acres and 100 feet deep, Clear Lake offers smallmouth plenty of places to hide. This beautiful natural body of water near Minocqua is prime in late august and september as smallmouth put on the feed bag for the upcoming winter months. Topwater action on main lake points should produce early and late in the day. During midday, work deeper weed lines where they transition to rocky bottoms. A slow rolled spinnerbait or a jig worked along the outer edge of the weeds, should be more than a hungry bronzeback can handle.
Onalaska Bluegills
Sometimes you need to keep it simple, and a few days of good bluegill fishing is just that. Bluegill fishing does not necessitate the need of fancy equipment. Nothing has caught more bluegill than a worm under a bobber. Keep it simple. Lake Onalaska is loaded with nice bluegill. The 8,391-acre lake in La Crosse County has bluegill structure all around. Fish close to the shore around visible structure and weeds. Fittingly, there are numerous places to fish along Fisherman’s Road by the airport where you can find bluegills.
Sheboygan Salmon
Sheboygan is one of the premier salmon fishing destinations in the Great Lakes region. The fishing starts to pick up in May and into June near the Port of Sheboygan. Kings can be found in shallow water. Anglers with their own boat capable of handling the big lake will do well by trying different speeds of trolling to figure out what the salmon are looking for. For an all-inclusive trip, Wolf Pack Adventures offers everything a group needs for a salmon trip. Step onto the boat at the dock and the let the experienced crew take care of the rest. To book a guided trip, visit www.wolfpackadventures.com
Namekagon Trout
The Namekagon River is shallow and rocky. It’s primarily a wade fishing destination, but you can use a canoe or kayak to move downstream. The Namekagon is recognized as a National Wild and Scenic River. Many fly fisherman visit the river in search of brown and brook trout. Dry fly fishing is popular early and late in the day all summer long. Nymphs and small streamers can pull trout from the shadows during the day. Spin fishermen do well with inline spinners, like Rooster Tails or small stick baits. Below the dam at Namekagon Lake is a popular spot for trout anglers. The Namekagon River Fishery Area north of Hayward offers 153 acres with access to the river.
See you down the trail…
Brandon Butler
bbutler@driftwoodoutdoors.com
Pic: Pic: Brian Bashore holds northern pike from the Mississippi River near LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
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