Lots of fun with ‘Musky Joe’
Lately, I have been having so much fun that I feel like I am cheating! This past week I headed up to Flater’s Resort, (715-595-4771) which is located where the Chippewa and Flambeau Rivers meet.
The Flater family has been running this resort and tavern since 1938 and if you are looking to have a good time, I give it an A-plus, on the fun meter.
My goal this weekend besides to hangout with “Musky Joe” was to catch a big musky.
Joe Flater guides musky anglers by floating down the Flambeau and Chippewa Rivers in a simple 14-foot boat. In the fall he takes on a few bear hunters and in his spare time he runs the resort and bar.
Friday, July 23
High 83, Low 52
This afternoon, instead of floating down the Flambeau or Chippewa, we fished in luxury on the Dairyland flowage with Eric Lundmark. The Dairyland flowage is a testament to what a well-run conservation group can achieve.
The WRA (Wildlife Restoration Association) is probably the most active group of conservationists that I know of and anyone that enjoys time on the Dairyland Flowage can thank the WRA for the time and money for helping to restore this beautiful piece of water.
We fished for musky tonight, I made a new friend and the muskies were not hungry!
Saturday, July 24
High 83, Low 55
There is a reward in every day. All you have to do is look for it! Today, Joe planned an 18-mile float trip from Bruce to Flater’s Resort on the Chippewa River. Last night, we pegged out the fun meter while planning strategy for today’s adventure.
Our reward was given to us due to the high water and it came in the form of the prettiest wheel barrel that I have ever seen in my life and it was stuck in the branches of a tree that was lying in the river.
After some prying and pulling, we had a dandy wheel barrel in the boat which kind of became my seat for the next 18 miles.
Soon after that, Musky Joe had a big musky take a swipe at and miss the top-water lure he was throwing. We kept floating down the river.
I decided to try throwing a Top Raider and mentioned to Joe that in eight years of throwing it I had never caught a musky with it.
You can imagine the shock and awe when what would end up being a 46-inch musky swallowed the Top Raider off the top of the river and tried pulling me off the wheel barrel.
The team of Flater and Walters did everything right, including the release and in the end did a whole bunch of yahoos, handshakes and even a hug.
When you think of the way that Joe earns a living, you can really appreciate him. Put yourself in a small boat, hope there is not too strong of a head wind and that there is enough water to keep from getting hung up on rocks every two minutes.
Pray that your clients do not care that there is nothing electronic on board but a camera, and try to pay your bills at the end of the month.
Throw in managing one of the most fun bars in the world, keeping your cabins full and your lawns mowed and you have the life and times of Musky Joe.
In the spring, Flater’s Resort hosts a marathon! Next weekend, 18 softball teams will come from near and far for the annual tournament and then there is the bear baits to run.
Late fall and early winter, Flater runs a trap line and he just skied in his 10th Birkie and keeps ski trails going throughout his property.
Community service in the way of helping youth in the outdoors is also a big part of Joe’s life. When we started a KAMO (Kids And Mentors Outdoors) chapter in Ladysmith he was one of the first people on board.
Just before we floated into the resort, I landed a smaller musky and to honor a great day, we stayed up very late and laughed a lot!
Someone pinch me, I think I died and went to heaven!
Sunset
