Best Places to Fish in Wisconsin: Chippewa Flowage

Here are some tips for locating and catching fish in the Chippewa Flowage:

• Weedbeds, stump fields and submerged bogs attract walleye during summer. Shallow areas with weeds tend to hold larger fish while smaller fish will utilize deeper structure and cover. Weeds will continue to hold fish from June through August. Weedbeds adjacent to deep water will generally hold more fish. Jigs tipped with a leech, minnow or nightcrawler should be worked in the pockets and along the weed edges. No. 11 or 13 floating Rapalas, Husky Jerks or No. 3 Mepps Aglia should be worked over weeds in depths of 3 to 5 feet on cloudy days or at night.
  
  
• By mid-September, walleye leave the shallow as the weeds begin to die off. Walleye tend to scatter at this time and can be difficult to patter. Typically by the end of September, old river channels and deep cover hold concentrations of walleye. Heavier jig/minnow combinations or Lindy Rigs tipped with a 3 to 5-inch minnow should be used.
  
  
• September and October are the prime months to take a trophy muskie. Weedbeds, stumps, bogs and rock bars near river channels are prime areas. Jerkbaits, such as Suick, Eddie Bait, Bobbie Bait and Smity Bait, can be very productive. Channel breaks should be worked with deep-diving crankbaits. Live bait, on quick-strike rigs, worked slowly along the bottom can yield above average fish during fall. Large suckers, averaging 10 to 16 inches, are often used.
  
  
• From mid-May through summer, the floating and submerged bogs will hold crappie. Jig and minnow combos or small tube jigs should be worked tight to the bogs. Low-light periods typically produce the most consistent catches.
  
  
• The west side of the flowage tends to produce better largemouth bass action while the stained water on the east side of the flowage produces better for smallmouth bass. Smallmouth bass tend to hit smaller lures compared to largemouth bass.
  
  
• During spring, developing weeds will attract both species. Look for fish to hold in depths of 3 to 5 feet. Spinnerbaits and tube jigs produce best at this time. Weeds will continue to hold fish during summer, but fish can be found in depths of 3 to 11 feet. Wood cover provides excellent habitat at this time. Berkley Gulp and Kreature baits produce well during summer.