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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | I'm getting married at the end of August (yikes!) and that has killed my chances of a LOTW trip this year. I will have enough money to go on a long weekend muskie trip in the middle of July. I live in central Iowa so a local trip is out of the question.
I'm open to suggestions in Minnesota as well, but am curious as to where in Wisconsin you guys would suggest going for 4-5 days of camping and muskie fishing? I'd like to catch a few fish with a chance at something big. |
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Posts: 1416
Location: oconomowoc, wi | Lake Namakogan in nw wisconsin.. not a numbers game but a real shot at a dandy.
Edited by fishhawk50 5/8/2016 7:43 AM
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Posts: 633
Location: Madison, WI | If you're looking to camp, I'd go to the Chippewa Flowage. Tons of campgrounds around the lake and many islands you can camp on too. Always a shot at a nice fish and the lake is beautiful too. |
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Posts: 104
| Since you're looking to camp, I would suggest the checking out the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest. There are approximately 750 camp sites available in approximately 20 different state owned campgrounds in the immediate area. The Wisconsin DNR does a great job of managing and maintaining these campgrounds.
This would give you access to literally hundreds of musky waters in the Minocqua//Boulder Junction/St. Germain area of Wisconsin, including both big fish water and numbers water.
If you are interested in specifics, send me a PM. |
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Posts: 62
Location: Minnetonka MN | Check in with Ty Sennett and see if has any open times when you are planning your trip. http://www.tysennett.com/
He fishes the Chippewa Flowage and he knows the lake and where the fish are.
Going it alone will be frustrating at best. |
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | Heard great things about Sennett, but I don't have the cash to swing a guided trip. I am trying to decide between Hayward (chip, grindstone, etc), Namekagon, and Minocqua chain. I'm thinking about going in mid June, would the fish still be up in the weeds and shallow rocks or moved out a little bit more? |
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Posts: 20216
Location: oswego, il | Turtle Flambeau has camping there is at least one resort on teal lake that has camping too. Plenty of options. Big Lake by boulder junction.
After you get married.and have to sell all your musky stuff. Sell it here!;-) |
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Posts: 1660
Location: central Wisconsin | Big Arbor Vitae campground, Big Arb is right across the road, bar is 100 yards away. Good action on the lake, weeds will be where you wanna go. Hit Lucia Bay and the center bar with "bucks" you will catch fish. |
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | Todd, the first time I took her muskie fishing she ALREADY KNEW how to use a baitcaster. I fell in love immediately. |
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Posts: 20216
Location: oswego, il | tkuntz - 5/8/2016 5:22 PM
Todd, the first time I took her muskie fishing she ALREADY KNEW how to use a baitcaster. I fell in love immediately.
I hate you.;-) |
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Posts: 688
Location: Already Gone | ToddM - 5/8/2016 3:33 PM
Turtle Flambeau has camping there is at least one resort on teal lake that has camping too. Plenty of options. Big Lake by boulder junction.
After you get married.and have to sell all your musky stuff. Sell it here!;-)
Second the Big Lake campground. That's nice.
Or Trout Lake campground and visit a few of the close smaller lakes. And check out those remote camp spots by boat only.
Or take Todd as your guide. :0) |
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Posts: 44
| Kentuck Lake in Vilas County WI has a campground right on the lake. It's a very good numbers lake and holds 50 inch fish. It also has alot of good lakes in near proximity.
Edited by Eric21x 5/8/2016 7:47 PM
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Posts: 159
| tk,,,,never met a girl yet who does not love the Minocqua area---lots of good Musky fishing---in all directions....and camping as well...Big Arb is a no brainer--- Minocqua chain is somethng she will enjoy as well...
And your new wife will love her time--as there is so much to do--compared to other towns near Musky lakes....
Also a word of wisdom---from someone who has been married a long time---and went on his honymoon in Minocqua----Your new wife---and your relationship---is more important than Musky fishing---treat her right---it will be worth it in the long run....
Don't make the mistake of a lot of guys and pretend a fish---can bring the same joy as a great marriage....
Edited by Storm Strike 5/8/2016 8:51 PM
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Posts: 360
Location: Tinley Park. Fish Cen IL. Bass & Vilas Cty.Muskie | Forget the state campgrounds, no electricity, pit toilets..yikes !! Go to Camp Holiday on Hwy J by Boulder Junction,,, 2 super bathhouses, great sites, in between Big Lake and Trout Lake... spend the $20/$25 and have a super campground....If your a woodsman and don't mind leaving your stuff in the woods when you are fishing.....maybe the state campgrounds are for you....I have stayed in Big Lake campground >> nice site, no electric for $10.....Have FUN wherever you go.. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | week of the 20th to the end of june on the Minocqua Chain is consistently good ... you're also close to lots of other stand alone lakes (arbs, bit st. germaine, big muskellunge etc...), the rainbow flowage if you want some real scenery without houses and then other chains (flambeau, sugar camp, manitowish) are pretty close and easy to get to ... |
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Posts: 409
Location: Almond, WI | June is probably the best month to fish Wisconsin--July is a crap shoot for water temps and recreational traffic on many lakes is insane so I rarely muskie fish here from 4th of July until the last week of August--so moving it up to mid June is a great call. There are tons of options in the Northern Highland/American Legion State Forest area. And there are electrical hookups in some of the state campgrounds, just not all of them. Some lakes also have boat in camp sites. Take a look on the Navionics web app and pick up a map book and find a lake or two you like the look of. Can't go wrong fishing weeds that time of year with bucktails and topwater (I also like mid-sized twitch baits), but some lakes also have a suspended bite. |
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Posts: 26
Location: Sauk City WI | I'd second the Chippewa flowage. There is a pretty nice campground that is almost dead center on the lake and you would be close to lots of other good waters. The chip can be tough to fish but mid june usually has a decent topwater/blade bite. The chip can be frustrating but there is plenty of other water to spend time on close by lost land and teal, spider, ghost, moose and many others within an hour of the campground. |
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Posts: 397
Location: Wisconsin | I would suggest looking at a campground in the minocqua area. There are tons of great waters within a few miles, and they range from big deep Cisco lakes, to small stained water, and even a handful of great rivers and flowages. 4-5days up there would allow you to get on the best water everyday given the weather you have during your trip...
Carrol lake, squirl lake, minocqua chain, Manitowish chain, arbor vitae, clear lake, .... The list goes on! |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | if i took a woman to Minocqua to camp, i'd take her to Indian Shores. you can camp, but you can also make it an oasis in case you run into any difficulties or if you are just getting her started into it. from there as stated above you can go from river to dark tannic to fertile to deep, clear rock to remote flowage in about a 15 mile drive.
you can also get cleaned up and get out for a nice dinner if you want too.
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Posts: 46
| Keep in mind if you are camping you are going to need electricity to charge trolling motor batteries. Made that mistake once or twice but never had bar owners say no when we have asked to plug in the extension cord to the on board chargers lol...
Edited by WiscoEsox94 5/9/2016 4:44 PM
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | I really appreciate all of the replies. Right now I am planning on staying near Minocqua from June 15-19. No clue where yet, but I have plenty of time to look into that. Really excited about the trip, but if last summer has taught me anything, anybody can get humbled by the muskellunge. I'm looking forward to finding some tannin stained water. Everywhere I fish in Iowa is pretty clear and Miles bay on LOTW last year was super clear and I have brightly colored lures to break in |
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Posts: 409
Location: Almond, WI | If you're looking for stained water, head out on County J or D--Pickerel, Gilmore, Rainbow Flowage and Sugar Camp Chain are in that area. Big Arbor Vitae is a good choice too, lightly stained off of Hwy 70. Most of the lakes right by town (Minocqua Chain, Tomahawk, Katherine, Clear, Arrowhead/Brandy) have good fishing but are clear. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Turtle Flambeau Flowage if you like roughing it and not dealing with neighbors.
Minocqua if the lady is coming.
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