THE OCONTO

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Bagley Rapids Campground

Our trip on the Oconto featured some fine fishing on both lake and stream and a relaxing 2 night stay at one of Wisconsin's premier campgrounds. Bagley Rapids campgrounds South of Mountain has many wonderful tent sites right on the Oconto River, which is a shallow and rocky trout stream at this point. After a relaxing afternoon of biking and detritus dipping, Mike and I drove to the bridge above Chute Pond for some late evening fishing and photography. We didn't catch much but we did get close to blue herons, an eagle, and a greenbacked heron.

Green backed heron
Photo guiding by Mike Shannon

The next morning we got up early (5:00 a.m.) and drove to Pulcifer for a fishing trip down to the HWY 32 bridge. The early start was well worth the trouble -- from almost the first cast of my silver floating Rapala I was into some feisty samllmouth bass. Just about every time I cast to a likely looking hole, I'd hook a fish. I caught at least three keepers and lots of smaller fish, without ever switching baits.

There is a small riffle under the bridge in Pulcifer, and if this riffle looks runable the rest ofd this stretch should be, too. We had just enough water to make the trip doable. Downstream from Pulcifer there are flat, rocky ledges that may require a drag or two. About halfway to the 32 bridge is an old railroad bridge that is worth a picture and river access at Cty Hwy BB. From BB downriver the river slows, and so did the fishing. I have found that in the summer, which is when we did this stretch, the best fishing is before 9:00 a.m.

Take out was at a park at the 32 bridge. Mike has paddled from Underhill down to Pulcifer, and I am hoping to try that stretch soon. I imagine that there are plenty of smallmouth upriver of Pulcifer, too.

Oconto Smallmouth
Photo by Mike Shannon


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©2002 by Kirk Schutte.