TURTLE FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE MAY 15, 2020

Welcome to the Turtle Flambeau Flowage!

The Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Northern Wisconsin is a very special place for anglers. This wild body of water stretches a total of 12,942 acres, but doesn't feel like big water when navigating. This is due to the 195 islands, as well as bays and points all over the place. 66 island camping locations are scattered over the flowage for free by the WI DNR. The shores are 90% state-owned and undeveloped, creating the wildest lake in Wisconsin. Wildlife is abundant, and the population of common loons is unheard of. Floating logs are everywhere, jammed into the corners of bays or sunk to the bottom. Combined with stumps and boulders, this lake has the perfect habitat for an extremely healthy population of well-fed girthy smallmouth bass. There are high populations of walleye, big crappies, and muskies as well. All sections of the Flambeau River seem to produce unique, orangish-colored smallmouth with extreme girth. I believe the root-beer colored water gives them their awesome tint. Dominated by the rusty crawfish, these fish have no problem finding food to grow. On May 15th I explored some new areas of the flowage and struck some gold early on, before losing a set of bearings and damaging a hub on our trailer. The weekend vacation ended short of 2 outings, but in the limited time I boated 4 very healthy smallmouth bass, 1 northern pike, and also had on two trophy class bass, one around 4# and one quite possibly the biggest I ever hooked into in the 5-6 lb range! Black and Blue seemed to be the color and the hot lure was the "Mississippi Mayhem" James Gang Nest Invader in 1/4 oz size. A James Gang Baby Squid Bait in the same color landed my final quality fish of the trip.

FISH #1 BOATED, A GIRTHY FLAMBEAU BEAUTY AT 2 LBS 14 OZ

FISH #2 at 18" WEIGHING 2 LBS 15 OZ, THE LONGEST FISH OF THE STAY

FISH # 3 A 14" SMALLMOUTH BASS CAUGHT ON A PLASTIC CRAW

FISH #4 A NORTHERN PIKE ON A JAMES GANG SPITTER POP WOODEN LURE

FISH #5 BOATED - A 16" SMALLMOUTH BASS OFF SHORE ON A POINT CAUGHT ON A JAMES GANG BABY SQUID BAIT

JAMES GANG NEST INVADER WEEDLESS JIG, SPITTER POP, AND LUNKERHUNT CRAW WERE THE SUCCESSFUL LURES OF THE TWO OUTINGS

---

SCENIC MERCER, WI

The Turtle Flambeau Flowage Scenic Area is not only beautiful on the water, but off the water as well. Windy roads through thick woods, fog covered lakes, with lots of wildlife all over. The trip into Mercer included a stop to view the LAKE OF THE FALLS incredible dam, which feeds the flowage. Also a stop at the Turtle River Trading Company was had to stock up on a few finesse presentations and a custom made musky bucktail by a local 11-year old tackle crafter named Ben. Its a quiet town that will offer lots of scenery and relaxation. I chose to stay at a local small campground this time, to utilize electricity to charge my 36V trolling system. Campgrounds are rare here as most of the shore is undeveloped, and the 66 campsites are accessible on the islands for free. Joe Miller's Cottages was a very nice stay with friendly people owning and working the property. Their property includes a private ramp and your own dock with your stay. They had several people-friendly wild deer walking around through the sites near the evening hours, which were a lot of fun to interact with. The water level runs high at about 6 feet up during the spring full pool, this offers your peak chance at prime bass fishing as they relate to wood cover tight to shore. These places end up out of the water as the level lowers throughout summer into fall. I highly recommend checking this place out in mid-May to late June while the fishing is much easier. Enjoy the pictures of the great TURTLE FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE!!!

PAINTED TURTLES DRAWING IN HEAT FROM THE SUN

VISITATION FROM WILD DEER IN THE CAMPSITE

EARLY MORNING FOG LIFTING FROM THE WILD WATERS

PUTTING THE SUBARU WRX TURBO AWD TO THE TEST ON THE WINDY ROADS WITH GENERAL G-MAX RS05 STREET RACING TIRES

TURTLE RIVER TRADING COMPANY HAS A WIDE SELECTION OF UNIQUE TACKLE AND LIVE BAIT FOR THE FLOWAGE

JOE MILLER'S COTTAGES IS A GREAT PLACE TO STAY IF ELECTRIC IS NEEDED

BACON & EGGS SHORELINE BREAKFAST

HARD TO BEAT OLD-FASHIONED RUSTIC ISLAND CAMPING!!

LOG JAMS, ISLANDS, FLATS, AND SLOUGHS GALORE!!

LAKE OF THE FALLS IS A MUST-STOP PLACE TO VIEW!

IF YOU ARE HEADING THROUGH PHILLIPS, WI ROSS'S SPORT SHOP WILL MEET YOUR FISHING AND BOAT EQUIPMENT NEEDS!!

---

THANK YOU FOR VIEWING MY PICTURES OF MY TURTLE FLAMBEAU TRIP! I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO INVITING YOU ALL OUT ON MY ADVENTURES AS MY NEW GUIDE SERVICE LAUNCHES IN 2021! STAY TUNED FOR UNCLE JESSE'S RIVER & RESERVOIR ADVENTURES!!

---

TO ORDER OUR HOTTEST LURE OF 2020 ONLINE, THE JAMES GANG NEST INVADER, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING JAMES GANG FISHING COMPANY!!!

NEST INVADER 3/8 oz swinging weedless swimjig

$12.00

2 PACK swinging weedless jigs, with a premium skirt, a Mustad 4/0 EWG hook, and a premium James Gang Fishing Bootykicker trailer injected by lethal Baits Soft Plastics. This lure can be used as a swim jig or drug on the bottom in cover such as rocks with its football head shape. Skirts are replaceable with the banded type on the market. Jig is powdercoated to match the skirt and trailer color. FREE SHIPPING, typically ships in 1-3 weeks.

Shop