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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | I know this has been asked a million times (been around long enough to know how to use the search function) but here are my specifics and I need your collective input. So thanks in advance.
Fall trip with my wife (August thru October). Action is key. She would love to see a cooler of fillets at the end of the trip as well. She has never been up North. A southeast Missourian adept to fishing for largemouth (and of course, panfish). (She also fishes Kinkaid with me and has caught several Muskies.)
I grew up spending many summers up North in my grandfather's cabin, so showing her around in mid to northern Wisconsin will be a treat. We have plans to visit LOTW in 2017 primarily to Muskie fish, so no need for that suggestion (and it will be my second trip to the NW angle.)
So without breaking the bank (lol), where do we go and when, so she falls in love with the North? Smallies, walleyes,and pike. (Species she's never really fished for, and frankly I rarely have in the last 25 years.) Assuming I pull a rig, it would be my aluminum 17ft G3.
A decent to nice fishing lodge that I can still get a reservation at in prime early Fall, with great Multispecies action in really wonderful authentic Northwoods environment? |
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Posts: 1040
| http://www.bents-camp.com/
http://jaysresort.net/
With that size rig and those parameters, check out the Cisco Chain in Vilas County just west of Land L Lakes. Gorgeous lakes. Lots of bays to fish if the wind kicks up. And those two links are to excellent resorts up there.
Bents Camp has a bar/restaurant on the property along with a boat launch and a bait shop.
Jays Resort doesn't have those things, but it does have the launch about 1/4 mile down the road.
The Cisco offers great musky, walleye, bass, pike and crappie fishing. And it is pretty remote...all things considered.
If you want to do it right, get a guide to show you around on your first day. Bruce Becker is more or less a local legend on that chain. Rob Manthei is excellent as well. Both are very busy, so if you choose to get up there, get hold of them early if you want a guide.
Good luck! |
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Posts: 20
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Donner's Bay, Turtle Flambeau Flowage.
Marvin and Connie have cabins and will take great care of you. |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | If you want to catch diferent species and keep a bunch of eaters, the Minocqua area is a winner. No walleye fishing on the chain, but the largemouth/smallmouth bass, crappie, pike, muskie, and bluegill fishing is excellent. There's a no size limit on the largemouth, 5 bag. There's also very good walleye fishing in the direct area within minutes. |
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Posts: 1416
Location: oconomowoc, wi | three lakes/eagle river chains.. fantastic multi species fisheries. |
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Posts: 409
Location: Almond, WI | All are good suggestions. I would add the Manitowish Chain, very good multispecies fishery with a chance at a trophy musky. Lots of small walleyes (good for eating though). Plenty of largemouth in the shallower weedy/stumpy areas and smallies on the rock/gravel bars, plus there's pike as well. |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | Thanks a bunch. I'll check into what's been suggested. Appreciate it much. |
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Posts: 300
Location: Minocqua, WI | I also recommend fishing the TFF and staying at any of the resorts mentioned. Boat traffic low, ambiance quiet, and most peaceful. Bass can be hit or miss/spotty depending on fall timing because they'll be in the deep channels and migrating into their wintering areas. Spent many hours just trying to find them!
As others mentioned too, Manitowish Chain is spectacular and can keep one busy without boredom.
Minocqua is good too and filled with 12-14 inch largemouths whose harvest is encouraged. For sheer numbers the chain has evolved into the best bass fishery in the state. |
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Posts: 20
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Minocqua is good too and filled with 12-14 inch largemouths whose harvest is encouraged. For sheer numbers the chain has evolved into the best bass fishery in the state.
Andrew, being a local, can you comment at all on what SMB and LMB have done to the TFF the past few years? |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Minocqua Chain and area lake bass fishing is really good and although i would agree that the place is polluted with 12-14 inch fish, if you dig a little deeper and think a little you will find some bigger fish consistently, enough that you might scratch your head wondering why you haven't fished them more often. there are some good bluegill and crappie bites to be had too, especially if you think deeper on your presentations.
Bass and Bluegills are like the BeeGee's, you can't say you don't like em without telling a lying.
the Rainbow and Willow Flowages are minutes away and are as good a fishery as there is in the state.
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Posts: 1352
Location: E. Tenn | fishhawk50 - 6/3/2016 1:38 PM
three lakes/eagle river chains.. fantastic multi species fisheries.
+1
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Posts: 405
Location: WI | Nobody's even mentioned the Hayward area. Granted there isn't as many lakes as Vilas Co., but there's something for every angler within 20 miles of town. Get the 2016 Hayward Lakes Visitor Guide from the Chamber of Commerce and spend some time on the 'net doing some electronic exploration. |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | Thanks again for all the suggestions. Convinced my wife to leave the panfishing gear at home, so we'll fish for smallies and walleye exclusively. Big win for me. Just so I'm not thrown into the FIB camp so quickly, that's what might have gone in a cooler. So whatever we're lucky enough to catch in 6 days will swim the rest of its days with the embarrassing distinction of having visited my boat. ?? |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | (whoops...most importantly I meant to let ya know...)
We've decided to fish the Cisco Chain and got a trip with Bruce Becker booked. |
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Posts: 1040
| hawkeye9 - 6/21/2016 11:43 AM
(whoops...most importantly I meant to let ya know...)
We've decided to fish the Cisco Chain and got a trip with Bruce Becker booked.
and....instantly I'm jealous.
Congrats, you will have a great time and learn a lot. Be sure to explore that chain. It is really gorgeous.
Couple "must have's" in my book.... Must have a Bentz Bomber Pizza. One of the best pizza's up there, could even be the best. Must have a little breakfast at the Forest Lake store. Cute little shop with a nice breakfast. Must have a late night trip to the "Paulding Light". If you don't know about it, go to http://www.pauldinglight.com/ . Very interesting phenomenon. Also go here for address and directions... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulding_Light Personally I don't know what it is, but I know that it is not always headlights from the highway. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Great Choice! ... |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | Booked to stay at Jay's for the week. Really looking forward to the trip. Appreciate the input greatly. We've already decided to plan a trip for next summer and bring the kids and grandkids up instead of doing the "Florida Beach House thing." And, I've got a bit on insight on a place in the Minocqua area for that. We plan to look into it while we're up there.
Am already checking into Vegas' "must have" list. (Can't imagine wanting to miss anything on it!) Anything else, I'll soak it up? What about the best Friday fish fry? And, while Bruce I'm sure will let me know as well, what should I consider in terms of gear/tackle? Thanks.
BTW Sled, seems to weed through the dinks just fine. Nice 'gills too!
Edited by hawkeye9 6/22/2016 2:13 PM
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Posts: 20278
Location: oswego, il | That looks like a fun chain, almost booked a stay on Mamie once was voted down. Would be fun to explore, get all the way up into big and little africa. |
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Posts: 10
| Vegas is right on -- great chain to fish. I have a cabin right down the road from Vacationland Resort and would recommend them highly as well. |
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Posts: 1293
Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | You picked a beautiful body of water and an outstanding guide. I think you'll love it. You can't beat Bent's Camp for food. Good docking right at the restaurant. They serve good sammies during the day and an excellent fish fry on Fridays; get there early, the docks fill up fast with local pontooners. |
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Posts: 1040
| Hey Hawkeye,
Bring whatever gear you have. I think Bruce will have you slip bobbering for walleyes, at least that is his preferred method in the spring. Guessing you can find smallies on the rock piles. Walleyes? Probably mid lake humps and weed edges, especially during low light hours.
But bring all your gear. Lake has pretty much everything in it that you will want to catch.
I stayed at Jay's once. Great cabins, really nice owners and a dog named Mylie that was a great camp dog. She actually learned how to open the porch door and come beg at us for breakfast. She likes sausage pieces and sliced ham. 
There is a boat launch about 1/4 mile from the camp. Nice launch, too.
Have the owner (I forget his name) go over the map of the chain for you, he can tell you where the hazards are. Then pick Bruce's brain for where to fish for different species.
You now have me wanting to book a few days up there in the fall..... |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | Thanks guys. I'll be sure to let you all know how things go. |
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