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Posts: 99
| What is everyone's opinion of the Chippewa Flowage? I live just north of Dayton, Ohio ( little town called Pleasant Hill ) and have been considering trying the "Chip" this year. I am only 4 hours from Lake St. Clair is what makes it bad. Fishing is great up there but it is not the "get away from it all" setting that I am looking for. Is it worth the 12 hr. drive to fish it? We tried Black Lake Michigan this past year and was disappointed. The wind blew all week and couldn't find fish when we did get out. The year before we went to the Cisco Chain just in time to watch it rain 7 inches and then the lake went into turnover ( fall trip ). With all of the islands and cover can you still get out on the "chip" on windy days? Thinking about the Indian Trail Resort. I figure with John's reputation up there you could not go wrong. Planning on an early to mid June trip, or should I wait for a better time? Any input would be appreciated. I must be bored planning vacations already. I miss the days of last minute plans. Tell the boss on Friday I won't be in next week going fishing!! |
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Posts: 1286
Location: WI | The Chip is very scenic and has some nice fish in it. The downside is you'll likely have to work pretty hard to catch one. I stopped going there, got sick of spending a whole week and hardly catching anything. If possible, book Ty Sennett or Tanner Wildes at the beginning of your week to help speed up the learning curve. There is a fair amount of pressure there, don't go over a holiday weekend unless you want to be cut off by other anglers. |
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Posts: 624
Location: S.W. WI | P.M. sent your way.... |
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Posts: 114
| The Chip is beautiful there's no doubt about it-you can't beat it for a northwoods escape. I have fished it many times in early june and it can be tough for skis at that time of year especially if it has been a cold spring. I have had better success later in the summer when you get into the bucktail/topwater bite with warmer water . Still the hayward area has a lot of great lakes for action and big ones too that are within a short ride of the Chip if the muskies are slow. You definitely want to get a guide on the Chip. Try Tanner Wildes or Ty Sennett to name a couple of the best. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | if you are basing your decision primarily on the quality of the fishing then the answer is no, the Chippewa Flowage is indeed not worth a 12 hour drive |
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Posts: 298
Location: Not where I want to be! | Musky Brian - 2/4/2012 7:00 PM
if you are basing your decision primarily on the quality of the fishing then the answer is no, the Chippewa Flowage is indeed not worth a 12 hour drive
Actually the quality of the fish is excellent, it's the quantity that is somewhat marginal.
It's as close to wilderness as you can get in the lower 48!
I would look at going the last week of June or for sure the time period between August 20th to Sept 20th.
I would consider Sennett, Wildes, or Dettloff as a guide recomendation.
Edited by wavridr 2/5/2012 9:12 AM
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Posts: 99
| Would we be better off waiting until late in July or August? Actually not going there for just the fishing but as a place to get away for 10 days or so. I keep looking at a few places in Canada but the prices are a lot more plus having to get a passport and the hassels border crossings ound like they can be. I was considering hiring John Dettlof for a day or two at the start of the trip to speed up the learning curve. Thank you all so much for the info. |
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Posts: 298
Location: Not where I want to be! | August |
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| Gorgeous body of water, quality fish, but can be tough to fish at times. Pete Rich and his clients catch a bunch of big fish every year from the flowage and area lakes. Pete knows the lake very well and is a blast to fish with. Contact info is on his website, peterichguide.com.
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Posts: 97
Location: Milwaukee, WI | If I had to choose 1 time to fish the Chip, it would be the August full moon period. We have historically always had success then.
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| As mentioned, the Chip is as close to wilderness as you'll find in a lower 48 muskie lake. But the fishing can be tough. It usually starts to get better in August, and gets better and better until ice up.
Indian Trail is on a remote part of the lake. It's a small, quiet resort without much in the way of food on site. Then again, if you're looking to get away from it all it could be a good option. Treelands and Tiger Musky are both better options if you want more comfort.
Ty Sennett is the best guide by a long short. Detloff does things in a very old fashioned way. |
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Posts: 34
| Eight years ago I was on a family vacation on the Chip. Not knowing the lake we hired Ty Sennett to take out three different groups of men from our family. A half hour into my trip with him in a mid day blazing heat flat August day I had my first Muskie. The muskie addiction struck and the rest is history. We have returned year after year and in fact last year we bought a place on a lake right next to the Chip. There are multiple lakes to fish in the immediate area. Due to the fact that a very large portion of the lake will not be developed it is a beautiful place to spend time while casting. I suggest that the best season for muskie starts in August and ends with snow. Hire Ty he is about the most comfortable guide to fish with you can imagine. Plus he will put you on fish. |
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Posts: 19
Location: Central WI | On your comments about going to Canada, depending on where you cross, it's not a hassle. We went through Baudette last year and had 2 cars in front of us both ways. 5 min and we were through. LOTW is by far the best water you are going to find anywhere for quality of fishing. Where else can you see a hundred fish in a week if you put the time in. As far as price, the old saying of getting what you pay for sounds true here. I'm heading back this year again and even though it's not cheap ( we rent a house boat for a week), you see a couple boats a day if lucky and enjoy the pristine wilderness at it's best. I love it up there and hope to be able to go till I can't move anymore. That's just my opinion. There are many lakes around Wisconsin and Minnesota (leech) that will give you numbers, but my preference to get away and enjoy my week would be canada. |
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Posts: 97
Location: Milwaukee, WI | I can't say enough good things about Treelands. Yes, you will pay a bit more than some other resorts, but it is worth every penny. |
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Posts: 84
Location: Buffalo Grove, IL | I love fishing on the Chip. I typically go in late September and have done well. A couple of years ago I caught a really nice 44" tiger musky. Coolest looking fish I have ever caught. And the best part about going at that time of year is that there are not many people out on the water. I could go large portions of a day without seeing another boat. In any case, I love fishing there and getting away from the rest of the world.
Also, if you are up there and want to catch some walleye or crappie for dinner you might want to check out Ron Bergman as a guide. He really knows the Chip inside and out.
On a side note I believe that Tanner Wildes is no longer guiding on the Chip. I heard over the weekend at the musky show that he has closed his business and might be moving. His website is no longer active. I guess that narrows your choices. |
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Posts: 99
| Now I'm soooo confuuuuused. From previous posts and PM's I was leaning toward Teal or Lost Land. Now I'm back to thinking the Chip. Either way thinking about a late summer trip now (late Aug or early Sept ). May just do a few long weekends and hit St. Clair for early summer trips. How is the perch bite? I have heard a lot about the crappie but nothing about perch. Do we need to wait for cooler water for them or are they still active in the heat of summer. I really do appreciate all the info. Like I said before, The last 2 years of vacation have not been great. I'm ready to get on some fish and need to keep the GF interested. She already mentioned something about a cruise. I asked if we were allowed to troll. Wrong answer!!
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| I don't think you'll you'll make a wrong decision either way you go---and I'll bet you'd enjoy either choice. I've fished the Chip since the mid 90s, and love it over there because of its scenic beauty. It's got a lot of different faces and multiple options for where to fish. You'll never fish the half of it a week, of course. I think I always choose for a compromise between what ‘might’ be better fishing in August or September to be there in June, because I like the weather of late June better. We've fished Teal and Lost Land several times, too---and as you probably know---their considered to be action lakes. You should catch more fish there, but they’re typically smaller. But they do catch some in the upper 40's every year, too. They only allow for a no-wake speed, because they are small and pretty populated with a lot of guests from the resorts. But whichever lake you decide to stay at, you can load up the boat and try the others on any given day, and be there in a half hour or a little less. Maybe just spin the bottle and choose whatever it points to?  |
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| If you are coming from Ohio, you might want to investigate some places in the North East part of the state. I think that would cut your driving time. |
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Posts: 440
| The nice thing about the Chip besides its wilderness setting is the ability to move. There are lots of lakes close by that offer a change of pace. We have fun fishing different bodies of water each day, sometimes two. Plenty of places to stop and eat and just relax. We go to the Chip on a Friday fish our way up to the R&R and eat. Then we fish our way back. It is a very unique situation in a lot of ways. |
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Posts: 518
Location: Cave Run Lake KY. | What, ChadG said, He has it right all the way. Just about every post to you is on the mark. I'd book in for a week at the Trail, Aug. Full Moon week. Put your boat in the water at your pier, and if you whant to try a diferent lake call around for a guide to take you out on a Lake, They have a guide list you can call to find the guide and lake you whant. I just bet you fish the chip the week and never even think about going anywhere else. If your GF whants to eat out take her over to the Casino it's only a half hr. drive And R&R is the best on the lake for Breakfast or dinner, Fish your way back to the Tral. for a midnight Beer at the RED BAR . Doesn't get much better then that. Good Fishing To You. Marv. |
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Posts: 99
| I was always good in school at taking test. I learned always go with your first choice, quit over thinking it. I booked 2 weeks in the middle of September at Indian Trail Resort on the Chip. After talking to John on the phone the other day put my mind at ease. Great guy to talk to. I like the idea of being secluded and off the beaten path. I haven't felt this good about a vacation in a long time. Thank you everyone for your input. Now the next question. When does the sucker bite start? Is the water still too warm in mid September? Also, I am assuming that trolling is not allowed. I'm not a big troller, but usually not in a big hurry to get from point A to point B. Usually troll in between. Please P.M. on any tips you may have for fishing it. I am going to book a guide at the begining of the trip, but any tips would be appreciated. Thanks again for everyone's help!! |
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Posts: 283
Location: beloit | I've been up the last 2 years in mid/late September with Ty Sennett and we've had suckers out both times but we also had as much action casting as we had on the suckers. If you are going to book a guide I would do it asap as I know Ty will get booked really fast, I've got 2 days booked with him this September again and I can't wait for it! |
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Posts: 97
Location: Milwaukee, WI | I'll be up there Aug 26-September 3rd. PM me before your trip and I'll let you know what worked for us. |
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Posts: 57
Location: Janesville wi | Chip is a cool lake. Scenic and the history adds something special. It's a hard lake to fish though and I prefer the smaller lakes in the area. I prefer fishing small lakes with a canoe though. |
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Posts: 624
Location: S.W. WI | September is a Very good time to be on the Chip. water will have cooled to 60's and topwater bite will be on. You picked a good time. |
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Posts: 21
| I have fished the Chip for over 20 years and it is a great body of water. Every place looks like it holds fish. I agree, a tough place to catch a fish. I have had my best luck during rainy days. John Detloff is a great guy and the historian for the chip. I even made it into one of his books. caught a 47"er with his dad back in 1990. I love the place as there is wildlife all over the place, bald eagles, otters, turkey vultures, deer, bear. The other great thing is there are hardly any jet skis, water skiers, or guys just running around. Mostly all fishermen. Enough resorts on the Chip to stop and get a beer and something to eat. Louie Spray's world record musky 69#11oz. supposedly caught right across from Indian Trails in the graveyard. Still have grave stones on the island across from Indian Trails. No restaurant at Indian Trails but plenty of places to eat around there. Hayward is only about 20 miles away. they have a musky festival in the summer some time. Also a casino there if you are into that. Good Luck!! |
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Posts: 2361
| You'll enjoy the heck out of the lake, and the casting at that time is as varied as you could ask for and there are plenty of nice fish in the Chip, 22-69 lb. range. Bring along a good reef hawg or two. At some point during this time period the hot bait will probably switch to some kind of jerk twitch piece of wood. As you begin to learn the Chip, you will usually be able to look out on the horizon and see 10-20 spots at a time that you know will hold muskies.
I would endorse a trip up to Lost Land/Teal, and spend most of the time on Teal. Classic structure lake.
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| Have any of you heard about this muskie record story? Is it real? http://wp.me/p2PhR-dM |
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Posts: 32884
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | What?
That's a Pike, and isn't in any way related to the Chip. |
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Posts: 909
| I would consider a trip to the Kuwartha Lake Chain in Canada! ( All Muskies and no pike??) Pigeon is a good lake and Green Acres resort is a nice place to stay!
Brian
Edited by muskie24/7 3/3/2012 8:16 AM
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