View Full Version : Anyone discouraged from fishing Chip due to conflicts??
Big Jim
10-14-2002, 02:28 PM
I was curious if anyone has been discouraged not to fish the area due to some of the personal conflicts? My personal opinion is the fishery should sell itself and I wouldn't let the issues be a deciding factor in fishing the region. Anyone offer their opinion? Only intelligent and positive comments needed.
Musky Mike
10-14-2002, 03:02 PM
BJ:
Gotta go with you on this one. I have never fished the Hayward area and the Chip in particular, but ever since I can remember it has been considered a place of greatness for musky fishing. I have always figured I'd fish it one day before I hang up me musky poles and I still do. It'll take a lot more than personal conflicts to make me change my mind.
Ex Chip Tourist
10-14-2002, 03:28 PM
Why would any tourist want to get caught in the crossfires? I've been to the Chip and heard the bashing first hand. I haven't been back in two years. I spend my vacation to get away from this garbage not get closer to it. See ya somewhere peaceful - CANADA!!
Esoxrox
10-14-2002, 03:58 PM
That is an interesting question. 2 years ago I was in touch with one of the guides up that way to set up a place for the family to stay for a week for summer vacation. We have been going up to Minocqua for 20+ years and was looking for a change. After reading all the bullcrap about feuds and what not I changed my mind and continue to spend my money in Vilas/Oneida.
ToddM
10-14-2002, 07:46 PM
The chip is a beautiful lake. It's not necessarily kind to the novice, it takes time to learn. Nice thing about it, you can set up a milk run of spots that you can fish all by yourself if you want. Not the most popular spots of course but there are plenty to go around.
It's also a great lake to take kids. Plenty of panfish and pike to go around. My kids have caught more fish there than any other place they have went to.
I agree that the fued casts a shadow here but if you like the lake, fish it and don't worry about all the other stuff.
Mike Deiss
10-14-2002, 07:47 PM
Big Jim-
I agree with you. It would make no sense for someone to avoid the Chip because of issues between local guides.
The fish are still there.
Mike Deiss
Jiggin Nut
10-15-2002, 11:38 AM
No. The Big Chip is the Big Chip. It was there way before the yo-yos who are raising all the stink over nothing. It will be there way after they are gone, too. The nice thing is the legacy of those who spend the time working to improve the fishing there will remain, and the bull these yokels spread will be long forgotten.
Trailer Trash
10-15-2002, 01:49 PM
The more fishermen that stay away from the Dead Sea the better. I don’t mind Chip bashing because it means less fishermen and less pressure. Chip sucks! I just wish all the 50 inchers caught this year were more secret.
Milly Acky
10-15-2002, 07:16 PM
LOLOL! All the 50 inchers MUST be a secret! What do they have so far? Four, possibly five?
How bout another study to draw in some tourism? LOLOLOL
Seriously, I believe the bashing has discouraged people (including me) from going. When I think of the Big Chip I picture controversy and politics, not vacationland.
As The Flowage Turns
10-15-2002, 10:29 PM
I am done wasting my time and money on the chip. If its so great where are all the fish? I'm going to drive 4 more hours to MN and fish better water where I feel like I really got away and relaxed instead of ending up in the equivalent of a big city pissin' match.
The Dumb And Upset
10-16-2002, 04:06 AM
Appears that the two individuals accused have been vindicated; also appears the "Wormins" crowd have boxed themselves in and will most likely blame the economy on their future lack of business....one "tourist" from another state now stands alone with his thirty pieces of silver.....the best indicator of the future may be recent past history><><><><><><><><><>< ><><><><><>...find the missing link*
Get over it !!
10-16-2002, 07:32 PM
The Chip is a beautiful place to fish, but its not the only place to fish. Fish wherever you want. But if anyone or anytwo people think they are powerful enough to shut the Chip down, good luck. There are plenty of guides and plenty of fish that are not involved in all this mess. Move on, good grief grow up.
Maybe if all you rightious people would just stop fishing for muskies, I would catch more 50"r's
sanchez
10-16-2002, 08:35 PM
Ha ha ha...and let you "unrighteous" people catch the big ones????? No way Hose'!
pete_k
10-17-2002, 08:21 PM
The fish don't care nor do i. If the Chip ran out of fish that would discourage me.
Confused
10-18-2002, 01:13 PM
Hi all,
I have never heard of this lake nor of this feud. I live in N.Y. state. What's the problem on "the chip"? In 20 words or less, would somebody please fill me in. I'm guessing this lake is somewhere in Minnesota. Sounds like a couple of guides are having a fued. What does a stupid fued have to do with myself heading over and dropping my boat in the water and going fishing?
pete_k
10-18-2002, 08:15 PM
Confused,
Just people being people if you go to the Chip you won't even notice the feuding. Just fish and enjoy yourself.
pete k
Still Confused
10-19-2002, 10:35 AM
I'm still confused with this entire situation. Where is this lake and what is its full name? What's behind this feud? Is it a good lake for fishing or not? Will I get hasseled at the ramp? You've all peaked my interest with this thread so perhaps someone can fill me in. Thanks.
Musky Mike
10-21-2002, 09:35 AM
Still Confused:
The "Chip" as it's often referred to is the Chippewa Flowage near Hayward, Wisconsin. The same water where Louie Spay caught the current world record musky in 1949. There is much controversy going on presently regarding the Chip due to a maligned study of musky mortality rates due to gut-hooked fish using single J-hook rigs, sucker fishing with set-lines, the striking down musky records from other parts of the country (Canada and New York specifically) and letting Louie's record stand, and perhaps most damaging of all, some Hayward area guides, resort owners, businesses, squaring off on other Hayward area guides and businesses. It has all served to detract from the Hayward area fishery, especially on the "Chip." It's a shame, but there appears to be no end in sight, and so the mudslinging goes on to the point that many musky anglers are looking elsewhere to do their musky hunting.
Not Confused Anymore
10-21-2002, 03:23 PM
Thanks Musky Mike.
Gut hooking!!!! I wouldn't fish there either just for that reason. Why doesn't "fish and wildlife" put an end to that nonsense? I consider it blasphemy to fish for Musky with live bait. If their fishery goes to #####, I have no sympathy for all the guides and lodges that will suffer because of it. If they aren't doing anything proactive to stop such nonsense, they deserve what they get. It's just too bad a fine fishery has to be ruined because of a few hicks with a backwoods mentality.
Jim McCullough
10-21-2002, 08:10 PM
While I have never fished for Muskies with live bait, and it is a somewhat contentious issue, I would hardly call people who fish with live bait "backwoods hicks". In fact, some of the finest Muskie fisherman around, who do plenty for the conservation of the Muskie fishery, use live bait in the fall. A few of them are close friends of mine.
john skarie
10-22-2002, 09:06 AM
Backwoods hicks?
Who exactly are you talking to? When was the last time you used live bait to form an opinion like that?
Would figure a statement like that would come from a user who can't put his name in his post.
I'm sure you've done so much to make the muskie world a better place with an attitude like that, just as much as Pete Maina, Perry Smith, Brian Grote, and countless others that will be dunking suckers this fall.
JS
Confused Again
10-22-2002, 10:27 AM
Sorry if I stepped on some toes, however, where I come from people DO NOT fish live bait for Muskie. I never have and never will. Perhaps, "backwoods hicks" was not the best choice of words....maybe I should have chosen "uneducated"? But I'm sure that wouldn't bode well with some of you either. Lets just say I'm speechless and confused as ever. So, perhaps some of you that do fish for Muskie with live bait can enlighten me on why it's OK to do so, and if you think it's the "sporting" way to catch them. Looking forward to some responses.
john skarie
10-22-2002, 12:34 PM
Give a name and maybe you'll be considered to be worth having a discussion with.
john skarie
I use live bait. I'm glad to finally know what category I fit in. Going to have to tell the wife she married a hick though. She probably figured that out when she saw my teeth. :)
Musky Mike
10-23-2002, 07:17 AM
Mike: aka "hick"...just kidding...:+
Glad to see there's still folks out there that can find humor in things. I was beginning to worry that maybe I was a minority of one!
Good Luck to you, hope you boat your largest yet. But if she hits a sucker, ya gotta toss her back Bud cause those don't count. Hey, they'd just disallow her anyway, so she might as well swim around for a while longer, right?!!
"We may release the musky, but the musky will never release us."
Mike Kagel
Algoma, WI
Still Confused
10-23-2002, 02:32 PM
I'm still waiting guys. I'd love to hear from Pete, Brian and Perry (the three wise men???) because I seem to have offended them....well, according to Mr. Skarie, whoever he is. I'm quite sorry, but I've never heard of any of you gents either. Anyway, let me axe you all again, why is it OK to fish live bait, and do you find it a "sporting" way to go about catching this lovely fish....not to mention the higher mortality rate when, yoyoyo, sucker fishing as opposed to cranking or trolling artificials. I know for a fact that it's not one of the most skillful ways to fish, well, for a 6-year old maybe but for now I'm just looking for some honest answers and opinions.
The King
10-23-2002, 04:18 PM
Confused, Let me splain it to ya dis way: Go back to they walleye board }>
Instead of bashing Mr. Confused, maybe someone should explain to him the concept of sucker fishing. As I'm sure there are many others that read the board that don't understand as well.
I've only used suckers once, quite a few years ago, and don't plan on doing so again. I just prefer other methods, not that I'm against sucker fishing.
Contrary to what some think, sucker fishing is not a lazy man's way to fish, or for the unskilled. It takes both patience and skill to be successful. Of course there are lazy ways to use them for the unskilled. But these people are not the ones that are most successful.
For anyone that chooses to sucker fish, I strongly suggest that you don't try it until you KNOW that you are doing it properly so that you are not harming the fish that you catch. When done correctly it is not only very productive, but can be done with a nearly 100% release success rate, no different then using artificials. Again, just make sure you know what you're doing and not using the single hook swallow rigs. Quick strike rigs are the way to go.
AWH
ToddM
10-23-2002, 05:37 PM
Still confused, what data do you have that supports your arguement that circle hooks and quick strike rigs kill more musky than trolling and casting? I am not talking single square hooks here, we all agree they should be outlawed. The worste damage i have done to a musky have come with baits with three trebles, not suckers with 1 or 2.
Still Confused
10-23-2002, 10:52 PM
AWH,
Thanks for your great post. At least there are some people on this board who don't need an email address to take someone seriously. Really, isn't that the most absurd thing you've ever heard....and snobby and arrogant to boot....
Sorry, got off track. Anyway, I don't know much about sucker fishing but I still think it's bad for the fishery. From your post you say that when done correctly, this method can produce a 100% live release success ratio, right? One problem here...you state that a person has to KNOW exactly what they are doing to be able to aquire this 100% success ratio!!! Well, I would have to say less than 2% of the population would have that skill...maybe not even that much. The other 98% are the yahoos that throw a sucker and a bobber out and let the fish swallow the bait whole until it's almost coming out the other end before he decides to set the hook. Alas, another wasted fish. That bothers me. I need more enlightening.
hey stillconfused..your a troll go away!
Musky Mike
10-24-2002, 07:29 AM
Hey guys and gals;
Let's declare a truce of sorts here, step back momentarily and take a hard look at some of this. This post started out inquiring about the interest in fishing the Chip due to all the conflicts. It progressed to a debate of sucker fishing and now has become a vendetta one side against the other - and there appears to be more than just two sides.
We all share one very important common bond, we're all musky fishermen and women first, most, and last. It's important to keep that in mind. As dedicated musky anglers we are understandably passionate about it and that includes the areas we call our home waters, the people we choose to share our time on the water with, and certainly our chosen methods or practices for pursuing Ol' Snaggletooth.
One particular way or method may appeal to any of us more than another and that's our right and business, but that doesn't in itself make other methods wrong. What is wrong, would be to set out to utilize a particular method without having the knowledge to be successful with that method - including successful CPR if that is what we are attempting to do or bashing others for utilizing a method we choose not to use. There are pros and cons to all of it, casting, trolling, sucker fishing, bank fishing, whatever. Discussion and debate will assist all of us, regardless of how long we've been at it, to increase our knowledge - even if it's knowledge of a method we have no real desire to use ourselves. For example, I do most of my musky fishing in areas which prohibit trolling, but I still enjoy hearing what folks who do troll have to say about it. I have only used suckers on a couple occasions and that was while fishing with a guide. This guide used quick-strike rigs exclusively and we managed three pickups on suckers while drifting and casting, boating two of the three with both hooked in the corner of the mouth and successfully CPR'd in a matter of seconds. So was the sucker fishing wrong? I don't think so as it achieved the desired reaults which was to catch muskies and successfully put them back. It takes a lot of patience and skill to fish suckers in this manner and it's not for everyone - personally, I prefer to chase after them with artificials as I get a bigger kick out of fooling them with something alien to their wattery world. But I won't criticize someone who chooses to troll for them or fish suckers if they are educated in their selected presentation method and achieve successful results which hopefully includes successful release, but even that is their rightful choice.
By all means we, each and everyone of us, should be able to proclaim the positive aspects of our chosen methods for catching muskies, question what we don't understand of other methods, and state our concerns and fears, but let's don't lose sight of the fact that we are all members of this great musky fishing society, we're brothers and sisters in that regard, and we really need to remember this and conduct ourselves accordingly.
I like musky fishing and musky anglers alike, I'm comfortable when surrounded by water and fellow musky addicts - I just don't like to us fight among ourselves, we're bigger and better than that.
Mike Kagel
Algoma, WI
First off, there's no method of fishing that will produce 100% release success. But I feel that most methods can produce near 100% success. Sucker fishing included.
I will disagree that most people are fishing suckers without the knowledge necessary to fish them successfully, as far as releasing their catch. I think that most people who sucker fish regularly have taken the time to understand the proper way to use whichever rig they're using. It's really not that difficult to learn. You just need to take the time to make sure that you DO learn. When I fished suckers I simply made sure I knew how to rig the sucker up on the quick strike rig. And I made sure that when I had a fish take the bait, that I didn't wait, I set the hook immediately. Pretty simple really as far as that part of it went.
I do believe there are also plenty of people that use suckers without the proper education. But that's really no different then the people that are out there fishing muskies that don't have the knowledge of how they should fight, land, handle, and release their catch. I'm sure we've all seen examples of that if we've been out on the lake enough. It just comes down to education, something we can all do our part in.
AWH
john skarie
10-25-2002, 09:48 AM
Bashing quick-strike fishing and people who do it is in know way asking how to sucker fish.
Still confused is trying to push buttons, and that is all.
The three wise men, Perry Smith, International Pres. of Muskies Inc., Brian Grote, At large director MI, Pete Maina, no introduction needed, all fish quick-strikes regularily. They are not uneducated, and needless to say, are ethical, and concerned muskie fishermen.
If still confused wants to know more about muskie fishing with suckers, then he should ask, not bash.
John Skarie
Pres. Fargo Moorhead MI
B.S. Aquatic Biology
Joe Torrelli (aka:JT)
10-27-2002, 11:49 AM
The best time to fish the flowage is late fall- shore fishing!
It is a blast, I recommend everyone try it just once!
Make sure you obey the law.
Joe T.