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| Everybody can bash the Wisconsin fishery as much as you like but WI does offer some very unique places to fish Musky, places that require an extra rack or two in your tacklebox due to their special needs.
Here is my list of 10 that are enjoyable for their special traits.
1.Chippewa Flowage, I don't care what you think about it, there are just not many places where you can fish rock, gravel, stump, sand, mud and combination bars. Then go back for reeds, slop, bullrushes, bay mouths, tributaries. Then go back again for stained water, excessive bloom(end of the world) clear water, and combinations thereof.
Then go back for midlake humps, sunken islands, islands, floating bogs, channel edges, sharp drops, gradual drops. Then cast any bait you like at any structure you prefer to fish, including surface baits, and then go back and fish more surface baits.
#2 Ghost Lake, dark, shallow, weedy, and dark, and shallow and weedy except the parts that are darker shallower and weedier.
#3 Gile Flowage, dark, with a strange strange structure pattern of hills coming steeply up off a plain.
#4 Shell Lake, could be one of those lakes if it wasn't speared.
#5 Wisconsin River(several great rivers to choose from but the Wisconsin over its length has everything)
#6 Winter Flowage, more unique dark water.
#7 Trout Lake(Shell Lake with weeds and structure)
#8 Little St. Germain, actually this is on my lists of WI lakes I don't ever want to spend a week on again, but it is unique due to the three arms and the water color in each of them. Everybody can find a water color they like in this lake in the summer.
#9 Governor Dodge, murky silty white looking thing.
# 10?? soon to be added?? Winnebago????
please feel free to add, endorse or subtract from these [:)] |
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| FSF, most unique in my humble opinion is indeed Shell lake. A companion and I fished there one Memorial day and, get this, we caught 3 legal Muskies that morning. The biggest was a nice fat 46". We also caught several pike the largest of which was a 42" fatty. Limited out on both Largemouth & Smallmouth. All released. Best day on the water that I ever had. Almost like shooting bucks all day long, LOL. Wisconsin Rules!!!!!!!!!!!
Let Em Go...Let Em Grow.....Mike[:bigsmile:] [:bigsmile:] |
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| There are a few very unique Wisconsin muskie fisheries, especially the Green Bay and Sturgeon Bay fisheries. With an aggressive stocking program some big fish have started to turn up, and I think (not sure) these waters also have a high size limit. There is one huge sleeper in Wisconsin, and that is Big Green Lake. There is a huge volume of water, with an average depth of 100 feet, and an incredible forage base (lake trout, cisco, white bass, carp, walleye, rainbow trout, bluegill, etc.). I e-mailed the local DNR biologist and he said they caught a 52-inch tiger in their nets last spring (WOW!). The lake has been stocked by various clubs for over 10 years and there is a 40 inch size limit. Big Green is very unique (deepest lake in the state) and is a true "needle in the haystack" fishery. Good luck trying to crack this one.
[:sun:] |
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| I'd have to add Madison Chain, it's kind of close to everything and the musky fishery is still growing. The only drawbacks is the houses on top of houses that ring the majority of the lakes. Definitely worth a visit.
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| yeah i don't know about the whole chain but Wingra is certainly interesting and productive |
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| A very Unique place is High Falls Flowage near Crivitz Wi. It has a special place near my heart it is where I got my first true trophy 50 1/2 inch 38 lber, and better yet is where my dad got his trophy too a 32 1/2 lber. It has the senic beauty of Canada and there is some big fish too. God Bless, Al[:praise:] |
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| Hey Al, I was gonna keep High Falls and Caldron Falls to myself. But now that the cat's out of the bag...
Everyone, Al is right. It's one of the more peaceful places to fish. The majority of the property around the lake is owned by Wisconsin Public Service Corp. Almost no houses or anything on it. Tea stained water but clear if ya know what I mean. Everything in those bodies of water too. Great smallies, panfish, skies you name it.
I only get out there once or twice a year. I have heard that the boat traffic can get out of hand though.
Scott |
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| The glory about Wisconsin is the shear number of "good" musky lakes. If everyone did their homework.... we ALL could have a Lake X, Y, and Z. If you really want to experience a quality fishery, low pressure, and REALLY enjoy a northwoods experience.... AVOID the popular lakes and do a little exploring. You'll be surprised what you may find.
If you are truly a pioneer.... then I suggest you take a stab at Green Bay (including Sturgeon Bay, Fox River and Menominee River), Winnegago System (From Lake Poygan to the Big W), Big Green Lake, Wisconsin River and if you are really really really brave.... Lake Michigan. These lakes offer the range from gin clear to filthy water. Shallow fertile to Deep Sterile ecosystems. ALL... I repeat.... ALL of these offer record potential.
Bottom line, Wisconsin has some great fisheries. It's the few POPULAR lakes getting POUNDED by huge numbers of fisherman that are suffering... and the result of the recent criticisms. YES, we need to work on improving that situation... but in the mean time, look around and you will see plenty of "other" opportunity.
jlong |
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| I enjoy fishing WI river systems the most. We are a unique state in that most(not all) of the natural muskies originated from one of the three big river sytems in one way or another(WI, Chip, Flam.), and I love them all, and more. After fishing the Menominee a bit, I see I have to spend a bit more time there as well. Some of the more unique lakes I fish are those little(100 acre or less) Smirnoff bottle I like in Oneida and Vilas, that hold ciscoes. Fun lakes to fish and fairly easy to learn in a short period of time. |
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| Wisconsin does have a great selection of lakes. With a little better management.. We would be awesome.....AGAIN.[;)] |
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| Add Two Sisters- The Wisconsin River from Mosinee to Tomahawk to Rhinelander- Petenwell- and Pelican to the list. All kick out 50" plus fish, and with fair regularity. All are also a challenge because of the unique structure in each. |
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| Dont forget Lake X
Y and Z are also on my top ten list.[:bigsmile:] |
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| Wading and throwing surface baits at dusk on Dorothy Dunn.
Floating the Flambeau River down toward Park Falls.
Buddy |
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| After this past year I would have to agree that the Wisconsin River in a unique fishery.
My vote would also include High Falls and Cauldron Falls and some of the Lakes on the Lac Du Flambu Reservation.
As far as the "Chip" goes, It's more of place of history, seeing that the world record came from there and that would make it unique. |
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| Actually Petenwell has only kicked out one documented 50"er that I know of. Quite a few in the four foot range and a few 50's that were never substantiated, but the only true 50 was one that young Earl caught a couple years ago. There might have been one that same year by a walleye fisherman before season, but thats about it. I do alot of research on the Pete, and each time I hear of a 50, i investigate. I've only heard of about 6, and like I said, only one or 2 were the real deal. Lots of people keep saying that 50's are coming out of Pete, I wish it was true. |
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| Forgot to add the Turtle Flambou Flowage in Mecer,WI.
A beautiful body of water that can produce some huge fish if you hit it at the right time! |
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| My favorite "unique in my own opinion" is the Sugarbush chain in Lac Du Flambeau, very pretty, no pressure, has a really wilderness stream to navigate between lakes that you sometimes have to get out of the boat and take apart a beaver dam. And of course Mr. Plajak if you know who I'm talking about. |
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| Bill,I will agree with you on the Flambeau flowage.Know of one 52lb fish out of there.
Another special lake is Yellowstone in Lafayette co. |
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