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State Representative
Name: Alumni Club
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Chain ‘O Lakes Info
Chances are if you’re an angler you’ve heard at one time or another about a famous group of lakes in southwestern Waupaca County. It is, of course, the Waupaca Chain ‘O Lakes, an interconnected group of 23 lakes spread out across the landscape like a necklace lying on a dresser top. Comprising some 730 acres of startlingly clear water, these lakes are a real jewel. But they’re not a place to go to get away from it all. Development is heavy. You’ll find every type of dwelling unit along these shores from the rustic cottage of the 1930s to the permanent home, to the near-palatial residence. There’s a state park and campground on the lakes, and resorts in good numbers. You can rent paddle boats, pontoon boats, fishing boats, even jetskis. And you can buy gas, bait, tackle, food, camping gear, beer and even sleeping bags and bedding all within a short radius. It’s not surprising, therefore, that lake-use is intense. So heavy is it, in fact, that Mike Remme, owner of Ma’s Bait & Tackle, 510 W. State Road 10, Fremont (920) 446-2444, says “even on calm days, waves are two feet high from all the skiers.” Special boating and water skiing hours, speed and directional regulations have been adopted. And next they may be forced to put in traffic lights. Yes, it’s THAT busy.
Fortunately, there’s also some room – and time – to fish. A mid-week expedition offers the best chance of angling without molestation by marauding jetskiers. Fortunately, the fishery is worth this scheduling inconvenience. Remme says you’ll find some Muskies in this chain: big Tigers left over from past DNR plantings. In addition, there’s a naturally reproducing Brown Trout population, along with good numbers of Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Walleyes, Smallmouth Bass, Perch, Bluegills and Crappies. For Muskies, Remme recommends working the weed edges in Long Cove, the thumb-like projection off the southeast side of Long Lake. The weedbed around the Emmons Creek inlet offers good summer opportunities, too, he says, as do the the weedbeds along the east and west shorelines of the lake’s lower lobe. For Walleyes, fish the rock piles and gravel bottom along the east shore of Rainbow Harbor, below Governor’s Island in Rainbow Lake, at spawning time. Later in the year, look deeper and fish the weedlines, such as those off the southern end of Onaway Island in Sunset Lake, or try the sunken island toward the upper west side of Rainbow. You’ll find Largemouth liberally scattered around the chain. The cabbage beds off Taylor’s southeast shore is one good place to take them, as are the northern thumb of Miner Lake and the north-shore weedbeds in Round. The docks and swimming platforms scattered throughout the chain also are Largemouth magnets, and plastic worms flipped beneath these structures can prompt some pretty good action. Of course, you’ll also find Bass in the smaller, eastern lakes of the chain, where they co-exist with some nice Northerns and panfish. Toss topwater weedless gear to the weeds in low-light conditions for the Bass, crankbaits for the alligators and jig/waxie or jig/minnow combinations for the panskis. In the spring, the Brown Trout will be found in the shallows, where they spawn. The Emmons Creek area is a favorite haunt at this time. Later in the season, the Brownies move out into deeper water – particularly in Long, Sunset and Rainbow lakes – where they feed on Cisco. During the summer months, therefore, you’ll need to locate baitfish schools with electronics, then troll small spoons just above them.
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