THE LITTLE WOLF.

The rocky lower stretches are prime smallmouth bass territory, but you will also find a mixed bag of other piscatorial prey. I have caught smallys, channel catfish, northern pike, walleye, white bass, sunfish, goldeneye, and sheephead in this river. I have also seen redhorse suckers and at least one musky in this stream.

The best section for sustained rock dodging is from the county put-in off of Wolf River Road down to the county park where county highway J crosses the river. From J down to Big Falls, there are a couple of small drops and then the scenic Dells of the Little Wolf. Here the river narrows and flows between massive granite outcroppings on both sides of the river.

The first time I paddled this stretch I was solo in my old-logo Grummy. It was mid spring and the water was pretty high. The last mile down to the J bridge is almost continuous rock garden. There are no dangerous or difficult drops, but in low water you may expect to drag your canoe off rocks multiple times. In the high water conditions I was facing, precise steering and accurate river reading were essential.

I was pretty tired by the time I got to the J bridge, but the quiet stretches below the bridge allowed my to regain my energy level. Pretty soon, however, I had to negotiate the Dells. I had to duck under a downed tree at the top of the rapids (it is no longer there) and then dodge the rocks in the upper part of the gorge. I managed to avoid the large granite outcrop on the right and entered the lower part of the gorge, which is a straight steep chute that ends in the quiet water of the Big Falls Flowage.

With the water this high, a huge standing wave awaited me at the end of the gorge. I hit it just right and spray flew with the force of the impact of my canoe as it hit the wave. What a feeling!

The Big Falls Flowage is a very pretty little impoundment. Many times I have put in at Big Falls and paddled up to the Dells. I have also caught northerns and small largemouth bass here.

Downstream from Big Falls to Manawa there are a few good drops and then lots of flatwater. Downstream from the dam at Manawa the river gets rocky again and pretty much stays that way all the way to its mouth. From the BB bridge down to county X you will encounter "bangers" taking day trips on nice summer days, especially on the weekends. To avoid them, put in early. The fishing will be better, too.

The Little Wolf is my favorite fishing river because of the variety and abundance of fish, and because of the proximity of our summer home. It has something for everyone, from "bangers" and families to trout fishermen to whitewater enthusiasts.