What's your personal best...

[BretRobert1]

For each species on the Flowage, and in what decade was it caught? Be interesting to see what decade produced the best #s for fishermen on the Flow.

1. Musky
2. Walleye
3. Bass (both largemouth & smallmouth)
4. Perch
5. Sturgeon (if you've caught one)

[luv2brw]

Musky 34 inches - 1990's

Walleye 26 inches - 2012

Largemouth - never caught one

Smallmouth 18 and 1/2 inches several since 2005

Perch 14 inches 2000

Note, I have fished the flowage every year since 1972.

[BretRobert1]

I've only fished the Flowage on 2 weekends so far, one at the end of May, and the other mid June.

1. Musky: 34", had a low 40 shake off the same day. Also had a couple nice follows from a low 40" fish and one a bit bigger.
2. Walleye: We've had some decent numbers so far, but nothing big. Biggest probably being around the 18" mark.
3. Largemouth: my cousin caught 1, and yes it was a largemouth. Probably a 17 or 18" fish with a nice girth. Probably a 3 lber.
4. Smallmouth: Have caught a lot of nice smallies, ours have maxed out around the 18" mark, although i've seen bigger.
5. Perch: My buddy caught a 12" on a Mepps #5 spinner, while throwing for pike. We were pretty shocked it hit it.
6. Northern: Like smallmouth, we've caught a lot of them, but haven't caught any over 24".

[timk]

Well .. it looks like the ' Good Old Days ' are in the past for larger fish ... But ... I enjoy the TFF more each time I am there !

1. Musky - 48" 28 Lbs - late Sept/ early Oct- mid 1990's - near river bed .
2. Walleye - 29" and 31" - mid 1980's - late Sept - both within a hundreds yards or so of each other , a Plus 25" in same area on Ultra Light .. FUN !
3. Bass (both largemouth & smallmouth)- Never caught a Largemouth , Smallmouth about 20" maybe 5-6 Lbs(?) and a few other large one too - last ten years or so ( but we knew that :>) )
4. Perch - maybe Plus 12"
5. Sturgeon (if you've caught one) - saw them jump many times in Baraboo and saw a dead one about 4 Feet long but never caught one .

[the other andy]

Muskie: 48.5" (not as big as Tiny's, but it won me the 06 Rodeo!)
Walleye: 25" (04)
Bass: not sure
Perch: not sure
Sturgeon: 55" (03) (not the TFF but it was a Flambeau River Flowage)

[Flambeau Vista Retreat LLC]

Don't forget those crappie bests too. There was a 17" caught this past Winter.

[The Tiny Fisherman]

Hmmm, let's see what's in the old databank (most of my memories are on floppy).

Walleye 32" (1982)
Muskie 52" (2010)
Bass 22" (2004)
Perch 15" (2003) fishing with Porky, had one on that would have been close to 18".
Sturgeon 62" (1998) on Chippewa River
Crappie 16" (2003)
Bluegill 11" (2009)

I keep Gary Thimm busy,

[George G]

Hmmm, let's see what's in the old databank (most of my memories are on floppy).

Walleye 32" (1982)
Muskie 52" (2010)
Bass 22" (2004)
Perch 15" (2003) fishing with Porky, had one on that would have been close to 18".
Sturgeon 62" (1998) on Chippewa River
Crappie 16" (2003)
Bluegill 11" (2009)

I keep Gary Thimm busy,

Hi Tiny, hey we were up for Memorial Day week and Porky never put his boat in. Did he die and go to fishermen's heaven? Wow.

[FlambeauFisher]

All on the Flambeau only-
Walleye 21"
Muskie 10" (caught accidentially)
Northern 28"
Smallmouth bass 21"
Largemouth bass 14"
Perch 12 1/2"
Sturgeon 6"(also caught accidentially)
Crappie 13 1/2"
Bluegill 12"

And last, I can't believe not a one of you posted who's caught the biggest redhorse??? :-)

[Flambeau Vista Retreat LLC]

Also can't believe nobody posted their largest rock bass! LOL

[greylundman]

Musky-28" I don't really fish for them, lost several of them bigger that grabbed fish I was fishing for.
Walleye- 28" thru the ice
Largemouth-16"
Smallmouth-19 1/2" a couple of them
Perch-14" 2 in the same day
Crappie-14"
Northern-28"

[The Tiny Fisherman]

Also can't believe nobody posted their largest rock bass! LOL

Ha, ha Scott, how about the largest lawyer?

[Flambeau Vista Retreat LLC]

Tiny: That's Mr. eel pout or Mr. burbot to you!!!!

[the other andy]

How about mud puppies? I've caught some dandies out there. Never had the nuts to eat one though. Mr. eelpout on the other hand, he gets skinned and goes straight to the grease. Best eating fish in The Flowage.

[greylundman]

How about mud puppies? I've caught some dandies out there. Never had the nuts to eat one though. Mr. eelpout on the other hand, he gets skinned and goes straight to the grease. Best eating fish in The Flowage.

How do you clean and prepare an eelpout?

[the other andy]

Skin them like you would a bullhead, drive a nail through their lip into your cutting board, cut around the head and pull the skin off with pliers. Then I lop their head off so I can see the loins and remove them like you would backstraps on a deer till you get past the ribcage, then filet down to the tail like you would a walleye. You can filet them like a walleye but there's so little belly meat you just end up cutting all that off anyway. Then prepare like you would cod (that's what they are) poached, broiled or fried. I prefer broiled with a little Lawry's and drawn butter.

[Flambeau Vista Retreat LLC]

Sounds like a "ling cod" genus "lota lota". AKA "lawyer" fish. Very good eating!

So now we have gone full circle.

What is your largest rock bass?

We should have a rock bass tournament.