Flambeau River

The Dairyland Reservoir is located in Rusk County is one of the best maintained flowages in the state of Wisconsin and has a lot to offer for the outdoor sportsman. The upper area of the flowage from Big Falls to the County I Bridge offers some of the finest scenic wilderness experience almost resembling that of a Canadian Forest. The Dairyland Flowage has fairly significant wildrice beds compared to other reservoirs in the state. The flowage offers all sorts of outdoor activities from the exceptional fishery that has been produced and now has been enhanced by placing a variety of structure of the different species of fish. There is a great opportunity for muskie fisherman who are either looking to catch a nice trophy or two or just enjoy some decent action with a good number of fish in the mid-40 inch range. Aside from the quality muskie in this flowage, the Dairyland also offers superb walleye and trophy smallmouth bass.

White sucker and shorthead redhorse provide an excellent forage base for muskie and contribute to their good growth rates. Emerald shiner and trout-perch provide an excellent forage base for smallmouth bass and walleye. Smallmouth will also feed heavily on the crayfish that inhabit the Reservoir. Juvenile perch should also provide an excellent food source for all species of fish in the Reservoir.

In the spring, walleye will be the first fish to move up into the tailwaters below the Big Falls Dam. After the walleye are done spawning, smallmouth will then move into that same area and begin their spawn. When smallmouth are done, lake sturgeon will then move in to spawn. Later in the season these species will move back down stream.