Baraboo, WI

Ed L.

Ed L.

Well-known member
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Hey,

After we drop the kid off in Dekalb tomorrow the wife indicated she would rather spend the night rather than drive all the way to Hayward. I'm thinking Devils State park but I've never caught a fish there so I'm wondering what about Lake Wisconsin. Anybody fished that Lake....cough cough...Pete McMiller or Joe Lane or WisPete or WisBoz or.....? Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Ed L.
 
Hey Ed,

Devils Lake State Park is an option BUT getting a site at the last minute like this is going to be iffy. Another option just north of there though with the same problems is Mirror Lake State Park - Wisc Dells. Lake Wisconsin is a good fishing lake though I personally haven't fished it in almost 30 years - since the lightening storm, but that's another story. Finding a place to camp, hmmmm, off hand I can't think of anything.

Looking at the map, this one came to mind - Buckhorn State Park on the Castle Rock Flowage just NNE of Mauston (16 miles north of Wisconsin Dells on the interstate). Sand country with a lot of scrub oaks. Nice lake with decent walleye fishing. Go north of Mauston on hwy 58 to, I think the second Hwy G and go east to the campground. Nice park, good boat launch and usually not that crowded.

Have fun,

Pete
 
Hey,

After we drop the kid off in Dekalb tomorrow the wife indicated she would rather spend the night rather than drive all the way to Hayward. I'm thinking Devils State park but I've never caught a fish there so I'm wondering what about Lake Wisconsin. Anybody fished that Lake....cough cough...Pete McMiller or Joe Lane or WisPete or WisBoz or.....? Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Ed L.
Click to expand...

I've never fished it but I dove (SCUBA) Devil's Lake back in '69 right after college (8 of us went there after grad for diving & climbing). There were a lot of fish down there so I'd presume it would be great fishing. Cool Place.
Lou
 
There is a campground right across the street from Devils Lake state park. Called Nordic Pines. Pretty nice place. The state park does keep some first come first serve sites for last minute comers but they are usually pretty rough.

I fish Devils lake a ton every year. Slip bobbers and leeches are the ticket. If you want the trout you can fish for them off of the south shore rocks with minnows and do very well.
 
Lou,

I've camped there alot over the years and for a clear lake it's hard to fish. Of course I was younger and probably drinking a few more beers in those days than fishing...;-).

Pete,

I did have the same thoughts with last minute trips to the Dells and the circus museum before school get back in. I wondered if finding a place to camp would be hard. Probably go on up the road as you suggest.

Thanks,
 
Thanks Mike. I think I do recall that camp ground. It's a private one isn't it?
 
We camped at Nordic Pines last year and it wasn't bad. Google Nordic Pines and you'll find them.
I'm not sure about the fishing at Devils Lake but the Baraboo area is worth a lay-over based on it's unique topography alone. If your not aware I believe Devils lake is a no gas engines allowed lake. You can have one on your rig you just can't run it.

Joe
 
Ed:
Good size bass in Devil state park lake but catching them could be a problem. I have dived there and there's lots of divers using the lake. If you use a yamamota plastic worm with a split ring in it's middle attaching it to a hook and let it slowly sink to the bottom should get you some action. Lake Wisconsin's water level is low. Below the dam the river is so low fishing has been almost none existent. I haven't fished the Dells waters for years--too much traffic. We've finally gotten rain here this weekend, almost 4 to 5 inches in our area and that may change some of the areas North of us--in fact it is storming right now in southern wisconsin. Not much help I'm afraid.
wis boz
 
Jim, You're also a diver? I guess I'm not surprised. I dove in Devils lake a couple of times but never really cared for it. The times I was there the vis was only about 8 ft. max and the thermocline was bad enough to give one an ice cream headache. My favorite dives in Wisconsin are all in Lake Michigan though the timing is critical (after several days of east wind) so I don't freeze my arse off.
 
lPete:
We just checked out gear at Devils Lake and never really like it either. Prefer the Southern waters, the Florida keys, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Hiwaii. etc.. but I've sold all my gear and just kept mask,fins etc.. Technology caught up to me
wis boz
 
Joe and Mike,

I checked out the Nordic Pines web site. Certainly has possibilties. Thanks for the heads up.

Joe, your right about the topo. It's a really neat area. I can't remember the name but there was a bait shop/bar back in the day I remember that you could order a beer with or without. What was that? Minnows! The oldtimers would buy you a beer if you accepted it with. If you didn't want the fish additive you had to buy them the beer. I thought I had them one day. I caught the minnow in my teeth and it was a flapping when my wife about blew chunks and put an end to my fun.
 
Wis Boz,

Thanks for the water level report. We'll probably pass that one up then. Boy I tell ya, we need it to rain until duck season around here. The river is really low right now. There are going to be a bunch of guys around here building blinds in the next few weeks with the hopes when the season comes around they'll have some water to float decoys.
 
I would have to second Castle Rock Lake in Adams County. Its about 40 minutes north of Baraboo, and I grew up fishing that and Petenwell Lake. The smallmouth fishing on Castle Rock is pretty good this time of year, just fish off the rip rapped shoreline. Decent walleye population too, just dont have a clue fishing them this late, I was always a spring time walleye guy. Buckhorn State Park on the west, or Castle Rock County Park on the east, would for sure have a site, and the boat ramp there is real nice too. Decent Northerns, Crappies, and maybe even a Musky.
 
I'm with you on the warm salt water. It's been a couple of years since I dove in Wisconsin except for advanced training classes.
 
Ed, Devil's lake has some trout and most reports year round are that it' tough fishing there.
There is more fishing going on at Lake Wisconsin through the summer - walleyes, etc.

I'm not sure that the circus world museum isn't still having some money problems - you might check to see if it's still open before counting on them to be there.

- Formerly from Sun Prairie, Wi.
 
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