Wolf River offers mixed bag for anglers

By Greg Seubert

After spending almost half my life living within a half-hour drive of the Wolf River, it was time to take a closer look at one of Wisconsin’s most diverse fisheries.

Not only did I catch fish at both spots I checked out on a recent August day, it was the fish I didn’t catch that caught my attention.

I decided to check out a pair of shoreline fishing areas that Outagamie County maintains. The first is on U.S. Highway 45 just north of its intersection with State Highway 15 on New London’s south side. The second is located about eight miles east of New London on County Trunk S.

The constant sound of traffic on Highway 45 interrupted what would have been a peaceful stretch of river only a mile from town.

It didn’t take me long to find fish and I ended up catching about a dozen bluegill, largemouth bass and yellow perch.

There isn’t a boat landing at the area, but there are several spots to fish from shore. One trail from the parking area led to an area of downed trees that likely hold fish year-round.

I could have spent the day at that one spot, but there were other locations I wanted to check out.

That included the second shoreline area on County S.

North of the bridge is a popular boat landing with docks. I checked out the area south of the bridge that included a parking lot, pier and plenty of places to drop a line.

This stretch of river is actually a backwater stretch of the Wolf that doesn’t have a current.

I only caught a handful of small bluegill and green sunfish from the pier, but I saw at least 50 northern pike and largemouth bass jump, some of them only a few feet from shore.

That alone is enough to bring me back there later this fall.