Have you visited Ashland or fished Chequamegon Bay?
If you have, you won’t need an invitation to return. If you have not, I strongly recommend that you get it on the calendar today. My first trip to Ashland with famed fishing guide Roger LaPenter to target Chequamegon Bay’s monster smallmouth was probably 10 years ago. I’ve returned to write at least a dozen stories since on everything from netting smelt to lake sturgeon on hook and line, from eel pout (really) to lake trout on the hardwater, and on numerous, secluded trout streams visited in the daytime and night, in canoe and on foot. It’s a great place. Go.
You really don’t need to be a fisherman to want to visit Ashland. The Chamber of Commerce (1-800-284-9484 or www.visitashland.com) will keep you informed on what’s happening year round, and provide you with the lodging, dining and entertainment information. To personalize it, Executive Director Mary McPhetridge and her team will take good care of you.
Me? I go for the great fishing. Last week, I went again with LaPenter, who also operates “Anglers All” in Ashland intent on capturing a story for a May-June 2015 issue of On Wisconsin Outdoors and a cover shot. I “caught” them both by taking 300 photos of Roger and his client/friend, Frank Cicciarelli. You’ll have to wait for that story, such is the realities of a bi-monthly publication but you don’t have to wait to fish and plan your trip. Here are a few more photos to peak your interest.
Smallmouth bass Hall of Fame fishing guide Roger LaPenter and Chequamegon Bay
offer reasons enough to visit Ashland. But there is so much more.
Find out how much more by connecting with the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce.
For your future planning purposes, the Bay enforces a whopping 22-inch minimum size limit on smallmouth bass. Fish come in to shallow water to spawn by year class. Look for those monster bass about in mid-May and expect great intense trophy fishing for about two to three weeks.
“This year for three weeks every day we’d have a half-dozen fish over five pounds,” Roger said. “You can keep one fish over 22 inches after the third week in June. We highly recommend that you throw those back too. Before that it’s catch and release. We’re very pleased with what the regulation has done for the fishery. It’s protected the fish, and our kids and their kids will have an opportunity to catch a real trophy smallmouth. The early season is best for big fish. For three weeks in May, you won’t have a fish in here less than 17 inches, with 30 to 100 fish days”
LaPenter’s big fish this spring was approximately seven pounds and 21-3/4 inches long. Think about that. The fish was too small to keep. But, thanks to the regulation promoted by LaPenter trophy bass will be available for generations to come. And to you right now. Those trophy bass have also brought an economical value to Ashland, with 50 to 60 boats seen at the public landing every day during the May spawn. Look too for those same trophy smallmouth to be more readily available again to the angler in September and October. When you’re fishing in fall for those pigs expect the beautiful scenery of Chequamegon Bay to get even better…if that’s possible.
Speaking of Mike Foss and bears, the long promoted bear video is up on our homepage. Check it out. And know that the great Wisconsin guide is out there working for you bear hunters who drew a 2014 tag.
The results are in for the Kwik Trip Outdoors Hooksetters Fishing Trip Giveaway. The winner is Dan Rose from Minnesota. Congrats to Dan, who will spend a day on the Wisconsin water with guide Phil Schweik. He is in for one great time. David Jackson of Kwik Trip Outdoors and I will be there in another Hooksetters boat to record the trip which you will read about in the September-October issue of On Wisconsin Outdoors and at Kwik Trip Outdoors.
Have you entered to win the Kwik Trip Outdoors 4-day bow hunt courtesy of DeerFest Trophy Properties? Text “Deer” to 75309. Come and see On Wisconsin Outdoors and Kwik trip Outdoors at our booth at DeerFest August 8 – 10 at Washington County Fair Park in West Bend.
Look for On Wisconsin Outdoors at all 252 state Kwik Trip stores and in the camping fishing aisle at all Wisconsin Menards stores. Elliott’s Ace Hardware stores in West Allis, Pewaukee, Muskego and Elm Grove, and eight participating Gander Mountain stores also carry OWO. If you don’t have your copy by the August DeerFest show, we’ll hand you one. Here’s a secret: Get there early and grab a Kwik Trip donut (or something that I guarantee will be “Kwik Trip Good”).
One more comment. Is this just a very fertile mother or just the world’s greatest adopter duck? Mother hen was all alone with this brood that I count at 24 ducklings on the Turtle Flambeau last week.
Thanks for connecting with On Wisconsin Outdoors. You’re welcome here. Shoot straight.
Dick Ellis