I just returned from a fly-fishing trip to Northern Wisconsin with my longtime friend, the Berwyn Bear, Ron Fiala. We traveled north to fish the Menominee River, a world class smallmouth bass fishery. This was his sixth time here and my third. On past trips we have caught many smallmouth in the 16-inch to 19-inch range (a trophy is considered more than 20 inches). Our goal this year was, hopefully, a few over twenty.
I arrived in the Chicago (Berwyn area) and stayed the night at Ron’s “bungalow.” After an Italian dinner we were set to head north in the morning. Our destination was Pembine, WI to the Grand Motel. We had the opportunity to meet with our guides the night before as they brought clients back to the Grand Motel that evening. I guess if it’s the only place to stay that’s where you stay. Our first guide of the trip would be Gavin who we fished with last year in September. He was ready to attack first as he shook Ron’s hand to welcome him, he looked at me then Ron and said, “Oh, I didn’t know that HE was coming too.” Of course, that set the stage for the trip as the Berwyn boys refused to cut any slack to the guides for the next three days.
Our first day we fished one of the sections of the Menominee River. All the water on the Menominee looks so good so we thought we would have a great fishing trip. The first day brought tough fishing as Ron and I had only about six smallies a piece. No size to brag about and we used all flies – poppers and streamers. We just couldn’t figure it out. But a storm front went through the area, and we felt that could have shut down the fish.
The next day we picked a fresh guide, Gabe, and the fishing was the same. Fishing was slow with about seven fish a piece for Ron and me. We again used a lot of different flies to find the right combination – big streamers, small streamers, black, green, yellow poppers – nothing seemed to work consistently. It was a bluebird day and with the sun out most of the time we figured the bass just wanted to “hang out.”
Our last day we were confident that the smallmouth HAD to eat sometime! Gabe took us to a section of the river called the “Lower.” We started out with poppers and went to streamers and then back to poppers. We tried every color popper and decided to try white this time. White poppers are rarely used on the Menominee River and I am not sure why. But not anymore!! After lunch, the clouds came in, the winds were light and the smallmouth got “Hangry.” BIG smallmouth started to “suck” down the poppers. No splashing or explosions just sucking them down. We would throw the popper, pop it once and wait. We had 16 inch to 19 ¾ inch smallmouth in the net. Could not break 20 inches. But that’s ok cause any smallmouth above 17 inches is a VERY NICE smallie. Check out the few pictures we took.
If your best fishing day is your last day, you don’t remember the others. We were all smiles and Gabe felt good about it too. At dinner that night we couldn’t stop talking about the day. The next day we headed home in the morning. If you ever want to fish an impressive smallmouth fishery head up north to the Menominee River. It would be about a nine-hour drive from St Louis. Contact Tight Lines fly shop out of Green Bay, WI. They do the majority of guiding in this area. Bring an 8 wt rod loaded with either smallmouth fly line or bass bug line. Ron and I are making plans to go back again – and again – and again.
Kenny Klimes
