| 724 Mansir Street Chippewa Falls,WI 54729 (715)577-9771 chris@on-line-outdoors.com |
| In 2005 Chris launched Wisconsin Fisherman, a website dedicated to fishing in this great state of Wisconsin. Chris has written a number of articles for Wisconsin Fisherman. www.wisconsinfisherman.com Chris was featured on "The Talk Show" on Pure Radio 88.7 River Falls twice. Once in 2005, and again in 2006 |
Just a hint of a new day was showing itself in
the east as guide Chris Powell settled in to
target walleyes on a shallow water shoreline of
Chippewa County’s immense Lake Wissota.
The last day of August had come in with a
familiar cold-air promise that the Wisconsin
hunting seasons and the too fleeting days of
cherished fall fishing were waiting in the wings.
Right now, though, late summer walleyes and
smallmouth would take center stage. The
guide tied perch shad raps and chartreuse
bombers for a long, slow and productive
trolling run that would only touch a piece of the
6500 acre water near Chippewa Falls.
Later, we would also use the electric motor to
slowly move and cast this same mud shoreline.
the east as guide Chris Powell settled in to
target walleyes on a shallow water shoreline of
Chippewa County’s immense Lake Wissota.
The last day of August had come in with a
familiar cold-air promise that the Wisconsin
hunting seasons and the too fleeting days of
cherished fall fishing were waiting in the wings.
Right now, though, late summer walleyes and
smallmouth would take center stage. The
guide tied perch shad raps and chartreuse
bombers for a long, slow and productive
trolling run that would only touch a piece of the
6500 acre water near Chippewa Falls.
Later, we would also use the electric motor to
slowly move and cast this same mud shoreline.
“We’re going to have the first walleye in the boat before we hit that first dock,” Powell said,
referring to an abstract structure in the darkness 100 yards up. “I know you just want to work the
camera but you’ll have to work one rod because occasionally we’re going to have some double
strikes.”
Powell was wrong with the first-hit prediction.
The walleyes over the next two hours, in fact, would never quit on us. Strikes, including the
welcome “doubles” would come at least every five minutes.
We would eventually quit on the fish to follow our own story schedule to hunt smallmouth and a
much lesser known population of Wissota largemouth.
Wissota’s walleye population, Powell said, has greatly benefited from a slot limit that was adopted
about 10 years ago that protects fish between 14 and 18 inches. Anglers may keep three fish
under 14 inches or two fish under 14 and one over 18 inches.
Although we released every walleye caught, we could have had our choice from numerous very fat
fish that were just under 14 inches for table fare.
“Until five years ago I thought this lake was worthless,” Powell said. “But the slot has really
helped. Once you learn the lake you’ll never want to go anywhere else. You do catch a lot of
protected fish, but there are also big walleyes and there are more than enough to take home. The
smallmouth population is really good too including bigger fish from 16 to 20-plus inches.”
We began pulling crankbaits over the mud in eight feet of water.
As Powell predicted, the perch-colored shad raps would get almost all the walleye attention until
the morning came on. With the transition in light, the chartreuse bomber would be the preferred
entree.
“We’ll keep getting hits early between eight and 15 feet of water,” he said. “As the morning
progresses we’ll transition to deeper water because the fish will be following the baitfish out to
deeper water. This perch bait is awesome because perch is the main forage out here. If you want
proof of that, you can see these massive schools of baitfish on the surface. Throw a little waxie in
there and you’ll pull up a perch.”
referring to an abstract structure in the darkness 100 yards up. “I know you just want to work the
camera but you’ll have to work one rod because occasionally we’re going to have some double
strikes.”
Powell was wrong with the first-hit prediction.
The walleyes over the next two hours, in fact, would never quit on us. Strikes, including the
welcome “doubles” would come at least every five minutes.
We would eventually quit on the fish to follow our own story schedule to hunt smallmouth and a
much lesser known population of Wissota largemouth.
Wissota’s walleye population, Powell said, has greatly benefited from a slot limit that was adopted
about 10 years ago that protects fish between 14 and 18 inches. Anglers may keep three fish
under 14 inches or two fish under 14 and one over 18 inches.
Although we released every walleye caught, we could have had our choice from numerous very fat
fish that were just under 14 inches for table fare.
“Until five years ago I thought this lake was worthless,” Powell said. “But the slot has really
helped. Once you learn the lake you’ll never want to go anywhere else. You do catch a lot of
protected fish, but there are also big walleyes and there are more than enough to take home. The
smallmouth population is really good too including bigger fish from 16 to 20-plus inches.”
We began pulling crankbaits over the mud in eight feet of water.
As Powell predicted, the perch-colored shad raps would get almost all the walleye attention until
the morning came on. With the transition in light, the chartreuse bomber would be the preferred
entree.
“We’ll keep getting hits early between eight and 15 feet of water,” he said. “As the morning
progresses we’ll transition to deeper water because the fish will be following the baitfish out to
deeper water. This perch bait is awesome because perch is the main forage out here. If you want
proof of that, you can see these massive schools of baitfish on the surface. Throw a little waxie in
there and you’ll pull up a perch.”
| Wisconsin Fishing Guide Chris Powell |
| A slot limit adopted on Lake Wissota, according to guide Chris Powell, has significantly helped the walleye population. Anglers can take three walleyes under 14 inches or two under 14 and one over 18 inches. Dick Ellis photo |
Despite non-stop walleye action on Lake Wissota in
Chippewa County, Ellis and guide Chris Powell didn’
t see another boat on the 6,500 acre water for two
hours. Here anglers work bridge pilings serving as a
doorway to the vast water. Dick Ellis photo
Chippewa County, Ellis and guide Chris Powell didn’
t see another boat on the 6,500 acre water for two
hours. Here anglers work bridge pilings serving as a
doorway to the vast water. Dick Ellis photo
| Lake Wissota Walleye Action Nonstop Dick Ellis, Published Wednesday, September 05, 2007 |
Lake Wissota, he said, is actually a flowage created in the early 1900s. The flooded farmlands of
yesterday include rock structure, timber and even a silo or two from the turn of the century.
Although he was unsure of the exact year Wissota was created, he was certain that it was made
three years after the sinking of the Titanic due to a historic inaccuracy in the most recent making of
the movie, “The Titanic” that initiated a bit of local protest.
“In the movie Leonardo DiCaprio says that he’s from Chippewa Falls and that his father took him ice
fishing on Lake Wissota,” Powell said. “But Lake Wissota wasn’t made until three years after the
Titanic sunk.”
A bit of research verified that the luxury liner went down in 1912. That would place Wissota’s birth in
1915. Regardless, what used to grow corn and soy beans is now fertile grounds for walleye, musky,
bass, flatheads and channel cats, perch, gills and crappie.
“The lake is fed by the Chippewa and Yellow Rivers,” said Powell. “When we’re fishing for cats on
the Chippewa River the sturgeon really put on a show. The people are just amazed with the way they
jump.”
This trip targeting walleyes and both species of bass traveled precisely as the guide predicted.
Early morning walleye action on perch colored baits transitioned to chartreuse lures and deeper
holding walleyes with the rising sun. By later morning with the sun falling on patches of leaves
already changing to brilliant colors with early autumn, smallmouth and largemouth were taking
lizards and power worms.
yesterday include rock structure, timber and even a silo or two from the turn of the century.
Although he was unsure of the exact year Wissota was created, he was certain that it was made
three years after the sinking of the Titanic due to a historic inaccuracy in the most recent making of
the movie, “The Titanic” that initiated a bit of local protest.
“In the movie Leonardo DiCaprio says that he’s from Chippewa Falls and that his father took him ice
fishing on Lake Wissota,” Powell said. “But Lake Wissota wasn’t made until three years after the
Titanic sunk.”
A bit of research verified that the luxury liner went down in 1912. That would place Wissota’s birth in
1915. Regardless, what used to grow corn and soy beans is now fertile grounds for walleye, musky,
bass, flatheads and channel cats, perch, gills and crappie.
“The lake is fed by the Chippewa and Yellow Rivers,” said Powell. “When we’re fishing for cats on
the Chippewa River the sturgeon really put on a show. The people are just amazed with the way they
jump.”
This trip targeting walleyes and both species of bass traveled precisely as the guide predicted.
Early morning walleye action on perch colored baits transitioned to chartreuse lures and deeper
holding walleyes with the rising sun. By later morning with the sun falling on patches of leaves
already changing to brilliant colors with early autumn, smallmouth and largemouth were taking
lizards and power worms.
As we moved to target those bass, this reporter made the comment that hopefully, the smallies and bucketmouths would be as cooperative as the
walleyes had been. The young guide offered a look and response that success on Wissota wasn’t really a question. “Oh, I’m not too worried about
that,” he said.
Born and raised in Chippewa Falls and in his first year of guiding, Powell has chased many of those fish over a lifetime, most seriously over the last
five years.
“This is my first year as a licensed guide,” he said. “Before that I was still guiding people out here. I just wasn’t getting paid for it.”
Contact Chris Powell and Fat Guy in a Little Boat Guide Service at chrispowell@wisconsinfisherman.com, 715-577-9771 or www.fat-guy.org.
Article Used With permission of Dick Ellis
walleyes had been. The young guide offered a look and response that success on Wissota wasn’t really a question. “Oh, I’m not too worried about
that,” he said.
Born and raised in Chippewa Falls and in his first year of guiding, Powell has chased many of those fish over a lifetime, most seriously over the last
five years.
“This is my first year as a licensed guide,” he said. “Before that I was still guiding people out here. I just wasn’t getting paid for it.”
Contact Chris Powell and Fat Guy in a Little Boat Guide Service at chrispowell@wisconsinfisherman.com, 715-577-9771 or www.fat-guy.org.
Article Used With permission of Dick Ellis
Articles written for On Wisconsin Outdoors
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