There are a ton of rivers to explore here in northern Wisconsin. I’ve dabbled with the trout fishing but deep inside me, I want warmwater fish action. I’m talking smallmouth bass in particular. Toss in some pike, crappie, walleye and perhaps a musky on occasion, and I’ll be in heaven. I’d also like to fish some of these rivers from our drift boat.
The issue is, here in WI drift fishing is in its early development and you need to be careful about where you float. Despite a river looking great at the bridge, what if you got downstream a few miles and the river is blocked by fallen trees? Perhaps an unnavigable rapid? There are possible dangers that can’t be overlooked. So, the best way I see to learn is to get info from others that know. Today I was invited on a float.
My invite came from my new friend Josh Hulbert. Josh is a native WI but he spent much of his adult life in the Air Force followed by guiding on the Green River in Utah. He’s only been living back in WI for a month. He too is learning the waters. Josh intends to guide for one of the shops eventually so he’s been fishing every single day since arriving. He learned this float earlier this month and today was his second time on it.
We faced a fish catching hindering issue however, the same one chasing me around all week, and that’s heat. Today was another bright sunny one with temperatures in the upper 80°s. We floated a gorgeous 6-7 miles, fishing hard all the way, and landed one mere smallmouth bass. We saw a pike and a few tiny smallies, but landed only one fish. Wow!
I know tough days. And I know fish get moody based on weather and barometric pressures. Today was a beating. That’s fishing however and I see a change in weather for Sunday. Maybe Josh and I will head out again. . . .