Ladysmith is right on Highway 8 not quite three hours from the Twin Cities of Minnesota. It’s the largest town in Rusk County. The Flambeau River goes right through Ladysmith and can provide some outstanding musky and smallmouth bass action. In fact, the fishing can be outstanding in the Flambeau. This is a pristine stretch of river that is mostly shallow and boulder-strewn. The fishing pressure is often light because it is limited to smaller boats that have shallow drafts. Hit it right and the chances for taking several muskies in a day are good. Throw smaller baits and you’re sure to tangle with smallmouth. To take full advantage of this unique fishery, check into employing the services of a guide. A guide will have the proper boat as well as the knowledge that will enable you to take full advantage of this opportunity.

If more conventional fishing appeals to you, pull your boat to Rusk County. The lakes and flowages can provide outstanding action spring, summer, and fall. Walleyes, muskies, panfish, smallmouth and largemouth bass are available in abundance, and there are lots of big ones. However, it was the smallmouth that got our attention in October of 2007. Here’s how it went.

Bob Jensen of Fishing the Midwest television joined local anglers Jimmy Skerski and Earl Fisk. Earl is a tournament bass angler and suggested the trio get after some smallmouth. The weather had been very inclement in previous days, but Earl indicated that they “could almost always catch some fish in the river”.

The guys got onto one of the local rivers and fished several spots, catching small and medium-sized smallies at pretty much every stop.

Then, on a shallow sand flat that had scattered grass clumps, Earl spotted a couple of larger smallmouth darting away from the boat. The bass headed upstream. With the bow of the boat pointed upstream, Earl set the power on the motor so it would counter the river’s current. The boat didn’t move upstream, but it didn’t drift downstream either. By activating the Auto Pilot feature on the Minn Kota Terrova motor that was powering the rig, the boat held motionless in the current, just like fishing from an anchored position. The trio started casting upstream, and the action was almost continuous: For approximately the next half hour, one of the anglers was hooked up, and many of the bass were in the three pound or better range. Strong, hard-fighting river smallmouth: Nothing but a good time. When the anglers decided to call it a day, the bass were still biting.

Rusk County and its many fishing opportunities are within an easy drive of several metro areas, but rarely do the lakes feel congested. Lots of uncrowded bodies of water mean one thing: Great fishing! That’s what you’ll find in the Rusk County area of Wisconsin. To find out more about this untapped fishing opportunity, visit them at www.ruskcounty.org or call 800-535-RUSK.