Families return year
after year
for their lake vacation
up here at the flowage.
Some even end up
becoming resort owners.
The memories
that these parents
and siblings
make of priceless,
which keeps them eager
for more time together
in this place of solitude
and recreation.
One thing that is for sure
is that things are
generational up here.
From visits on vacation
to the owners running
the resorts themselves
with some
being multi-generational
business owners.
So we run the pod strip
once a week
during the summer
for the kids
around the resort.
Probably 35 years now,
all kids out on the pontoon
with poles and worms
and
catch a bunch of pan fish.
Sometimes other fish
during the
tots fishing trip.
A boat is loaded up
with parents and youngsters
where each is handed a pole
with a line and a hook.
It's then up to them
to catch a fish,
which they often do.
Anchored in a shallow bay,
the kids
catch and release fish
that are a few inches
long back into the water.
So I'm fourth
generation at the resort.
I started going on
the fishing trip as a kid,
fishing on it
before working on it.
Me
being a fourth generation,
a lot of the guests
that come back
are multi-generation.
Their parents have done
it, grandparents.
It's just kind of fun
seeing everyone year to year
and watching them grow
such amazing memories.
Some hook their own worm
and shine and pride.
Others ask for assistance
from the fishing
guides with them
and then eagerly
wait
for the next prized catch.
We've had a couple of times
on the Todd Strip
where a kid
is hooked on bluegill
and they'll bring it in
and a muskie or a large
northern will
come up and eat it.
We get a lot of kids
off the dock
that'll catch big predator
fish like the Muskie
Northern walleye randomly.
And it's all just fun.
Watch all the excitement.
Parents come around and
it's pretty fun.
The flowage
is full of islands.
Over 100.
Island camping on the north
half of the lake
is first come, first
serve the islands
and the southern
half of the lake.
A part of the reservation
while the rest are DNR land.
One of the cool things
about the Chippewa flowage
is there's over 140
islands in the waters,
which means there's
hundreds of miles
of shoreline you can enjoy
and a lot of places
where you can camp.
Some of the
islands are named,
some are not,
and the ones that are named
are named generally
after something that
happened on the island.
They have a ghost island
of a chipmunk island.
They have
all kinds of islands.
And we have a number
of unnamed islands
where something has yet
to happen, including one
we're standing on now.
So with these guys camping
there might be a name
by the time we're done.
I'm going to go see a group
that's out camping.
They were intrigued
by how the largest Muskie
was caught up here
at the Chippewa Flowage
and wanted to see
if they could reel in
some for themselves.
So, Griffin,
why did you choose
the Chippewa Flowage
for camping?
Oh, I wanted to get,
like, away from society.
No reception,
no electronics, gives
everybody a break
and we knew the world
record, Muskie was got here.
May as well give it a try.
I mean, you have hundreds
of miles of shoreline
across these islands.
How did you get to
this particular island?
It's really cool.
We know
this is the biggest one
they had.
And when we first
tested out this island,
we
saw the deer on the island.
So we thought it'd
be pretty cool
and be able to explore
with like the wildlife.
A lot of times at night
before we go to bed
we can see the sunset
very well.
All the water
it shines its pink
early sunset it's
a nice bright orange water
still at a distance
you hear the loons
or the elk
leaves in the wind
and smell the campfire.
So what's your favorite
experience been so far?
Catching the 17
to 20 pound catfish
and actually seeing the pole
be bending
so you know you're
going to eat today.
Yeah.
And it's not going to be
those granola bars,
you know, as a back up,
you know, if you want to.
Hop in
a skip from the flowage
is downtown Hayward.
Visitors can check out
downtown Hayward,
which is adjacent
to the Chippewa
Flowage Resorts.
There's
a plethora of candy shops
and only grab.
This is good.
A record shop.
And more.
I'm going to visit
the lumberjack show in town
where professionals chop
wood at record speeds,
climb trees
taller than telephone
poles, throw axes.
And wheeled chainsaws.