An Outdoorsman’s Journal: The Turtle-Flambeau Flowage Hello friends, This week I spent three days camped on an island on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage with my golden retriever, Red. This trip was a bit unique, as I hit some pretty harsh weather but still had a very nice time while camping at a place where I have hundreds of positive memories. I think it is important to write that starting in 2026, all campsites at the Turtle- Flambeau will require pre-registration and a fee. Mark Walters Monday, June 2 — High 73, low 46 This adventure was a bit different for me, as I literally came from another, which means I met the field work for two deadlines in six days. As usual, I put in at Murray’s landing on the east end of the flowage. My canoe was very loaded, which, for a guy with thousands of miles under his belt in a canoe, did not look very professional. My plan was to paddle to a campsite about 2 miles away and paddle troll for three days just pulling Salmos, which are a very effective crankbait. My other plan was to do as little as possible at camp. There was some solid stress in the form of a headwind that made forward momentum difficult, but I reached my goal and as soon I made it to my island, I noticed that there were several painted turtles staring at me from the water. At this time the wind also became so strong that paddling a canoe was not meant to be. It was midafternoon so I built camp and for the next five hours watched my world, which in this case was several turtles climbing up a steep bank and attempting to lay eggs literally within feet of me. I moved one back to the water, as she started digging her nest in the sand within inches of the first cast I had a hard hit and soon landed a 47-inch musky, which was my biggest. I tried releasing it and that did not go well. I even got in the water with it and it was obvious she was going to die. I made an executive decision to drive to Mercer and find a tavern that would let me put what was now my trophy in their freezer. I was successful and had so much fun that I slept in my truck instead of putting the key in the ignition. Just before dark today, I got off my lazy butt and on my first cast with a Salmo had a hard hit that landed a 17-inch smallmouth bass. This release was a success. Tuesday, June 3 — High 57, low 41 This morning I woke up to the densest smoke I have ever witnessed from a forest fire in Wisconsin. The smoke was from fires in Manitoba, but it seemed like the fire could literally be just miles away. Soon after breakfast, a steady rain began that would become an absolute soaker, and I was literally stuck inside of my tent until 6 p.m. with my pal Red. If you want to learn a bit about yourself, think small tent, all day, lots of rain, no book or radio. I had nothing but time and had plenty of thoughts about this place, like when my dad started bringing me here back in 1970 for what would be the opener of Wisconsin’s fishing season. We were as low-budget as could be but did not care. Our adventure was always living on an island that had excellent fishing from shore. We would also drift fish a lot using June Bug spinners and holy moly, did we catch the fish. These were Friday through Tuesday trips and pure quality of life living. P.S. On that thought, our outboard was a 6HP Mercury. I took my daughter Selina and three of her friends here a number of times and it was always lots of laughter and adventure. The last day of this experience the skies were clear, the wind was low, and I did not catch a fish and simply did not care! Live large, Sunset fire ring. Venison Processing Black River Country Insurance Group, LLC Catering • Weddings • Funerals Family Reunions • Company Meals We are looking into the future to better serve your needs today. • Auto • Commercial • Farm • Home • Farm Bureau Life Annuities About 20 years ago I was camped about a mile from this location on a bow hunting and musky fishing trip. I had caught a 41-inch musky on a Suick the day before and the hunting was good as well. I was driving my boat to a hunt and decided to make a cast directly at the shoreline at what was my home for three days. On the Tim Voigt, Career Agent 93304 450 Hewett St., Neillsville 715-743-2800 tvoigt@ruralins.com 84607 Ryan Dillenbeck, Career Agent 102 E. Main St., Thorp 715-223-2777 715-669-5400 rdillenbeck@ruralins.com www.smithbrosmeats.com Hwy. 13 South • Colby, WI 54421 An Outdoorsman’s Journal: The Turtle-Flambeau Flowage Hello friends, This week I spent three days camped on an island on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage with my golden retriever, Red. This trip was a bit unique, as I hit some pretty harsh weather but still had a very nice time while camping at a place where I have hundreds of positive memories. I think it is important to write that starting in 2026, all campsites at the Turtle- Flambeau will require pre-registration and a fee. Mark Walters Monday, June 2 — High 73, low 46 This adventure was a bit different for me, as I literally came from another, which means I met the field work for two deadlines in six days. As usual, I put in at Murray’s landing on the east end of the flowage. My canoe was very loaded, which, for a guy with thousands of miles under his belt in a canoe, did not look very professional. My plan was to paddle to a campsite about 2 miles away and paddle troll for three days just pulling Salmos, which are a very effective crankbait. My other plan was to do as little as possible at camp. There was some solid stress in the form of a headwind that made forward momentum difficult, but I reached my goal and as soon I made it to my island, I noticed that there were several painted turtles staring at me from the water. At this time the wind also became so strong that paddling a canoe was not meant to be. It was midafternoon so I built camp and for the next five hours watched my world, which in this case was several turtles climbing up a steep bank and attempting to lay eggs literally within feet of me. I moved one back to the water, as she started digging her nest in the sand within inches of the first cast I had a hard hit and soon landed a 47-inch musky, which was my biggest. I tried releasing it and that did not go well. I even got in the water with it and it was obvious she was going to die. I made an executive decision to drive to Mercer and find a tavern that would let me put what was now my trophy in their freezer. I was successful and had so much fun that I slept in my truck instead of putting the key in the ignition. Just before dark today, I got off my lazy butt and on my first cast with a Salmo had a hard hit that landed a 17-inch smallmouth bass. This release was a success. Tuesday, June 3 — High 57, low 41 This morning I woke up to the densest smoke I have ever witnessed from a forest fire in Wisconsin. The smoke was from fires in Manitoba, but it seemed like the fire could literally be just miles away. Soon after breakfast, a steady rain began that would become an absolute soaker, and I was literally stuck inside of my tent until 6 p.m. with my pal Red. If you want to learn a bit about yourself, think small tent, all day, lots of rain, no book or radio. I had nothing but time and had plenty of thoughts about this place, like when my dad started bringing me here back in 1970 for what would be the opener of Wisconsin’s fishing season. We were as low-budget as could be but did not care. Our adventure was always living on an island that had excellent fishing from shore. We would also drift fish a lot using June Bug spinners and holy moly, did we catch the fish. These were Friday through Tuesday trips and pure quality of life living. P.S. On that thought, our outboard was a 6HP Mercury. I took my daughter Selina and three of her friends here a number of times and it was always lots of laughter and adventure. The last day of this experience the skies were clear, the wind was low, and I did not catch a fish and simply did not care! Live large, Sunset fire ring. Venison Processing Black River Country Insurance Group, LLC Catering • Weddings • Funerals Family Reunions • Company Meals We are looking into the future to better serve your needs today. • Auto • Commercial • Farm • Home • Farm Bureau Life Annuities About 20 years ago I was camped about a mile from this location on a bow hunting and musky fishing trip. I had caught a 41-inch musky on a Suick the day before and the hunting was good as well. I was driving my boat to a hunt and decided to make a cast directly at the shoreline at what was my home for three days. On the Tim Voigt, Career Agent 93304 450 Hewett St., Neillsville 715-743-2800 tvoigt@ruralins.com 84607 Ryan Dillenbeck, Career Agent 102 E. Main St., Thorp 715-223-2777 715-669-5400 rdillenbeck@ruralins.com www.smithbrosmeats.com Hwy. 13 South • Colby, WI 54421
Medford senior co-captain Nathan Schuld tries to settle the bouncing ball and hold shield Rice Lake’s Greyson Schroeder from getting to it during the first half of Tuesday’s boys soccer season opener at Raider Field. Rice Lake won 5-0. MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS
Evan Pagel, Angus Hamland and Ace Arndt, pictured at last fall’s WIAA Division 2 Colby sectional, are just three of the runners returning to this year’s Medford boys cross country team. The Running Raiders open their season today, Thursday, at the Timm’s Hill Invitational. MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS
Gilman’s Sawyer Winger tries to outrun Owen-Withee’s Troy Sherwood as he gains 23 yards on a second-quarter screen pass during Friday’s 43-0 win. ALEX WILSON/THE STAR NEWS
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