Out of all the fishing spots in Northeast Wisconsin the Little River Public

Boat Landing on Lake Michigan in Marinette, Wisconsin seems like the best

kept secret in the area. It's quaint location among upper scale homes on the

lake in Marinette, Wisconsin make it seem as if it were built merely for the

boating and "SeaDooing" whims of the folks of the area. But on any given

Saturday or Sunday during summer folks can also be seen

coexisting peaceably at Little River be they small craft boaters, "SeaDoers,"

or fishermen. It's also a great early morning fishing spot for the

xenophobic fisherman in all of us.

On the last Saturday in August (8/31/96) of this year at around 10 o'clock in

the morning Alex, myself and about six other neighboring folks lined the

broken rocked shoreline to dip our lines into the the small inlet leading

into the Little River from the lake. Our set up consisted of heavier-type

rods and reels, spawn sacks as bait with triple-headed hooks, 2 ounce sinkers

and 20 pound test line. Once "set up" we were ready for our big salmon catch

of the day. There was just enough happening to keep our attention with some

sort of activity happening every 30 minutes or so. Snags, fights with salmon

that got away, and even a bout with a full grown 25 to 30 pound snapping

turtle (that we landed and eventually let go) made this lazy

mid-morning/early afternoon fishing excursion a mostly relaxed but enjoyable

experience.

When all was said and done (by about 2 PM or so) I came away empty handed (I

blame this on my inexperience as a fisherman; this was my fourth time out

ever with my 1996 non-resident license,) but Alex caught two silver-stomached

king salmon, approximately 3 years old with the larger one measuring 36

inches and weighing 25 to 28 pounds. Alex being the experienced fisherman

and my fishing mentor literally beamed once each of these fish were landed

and his fights to land these beasts were finally over.

Traditionally at this time of the year the salmon are just starting to come

inland to spawn with the "full-run" inland to spawn coming up in just a few

weeks. Expect unbelievable fights, 25 to 30 yard runs as these beasts have a

tendancy to take off on you - especially if given the drag you need to reel

them in properly. Do not expect to use light equipment - you will not have a

chance! Be careful! If you don't set the hook properly you will come away

empty-handed. The flesh inside salmon mouths is very hard - you must set the

hook in their lips or on the corners of their mouths! DNR rules and

regulations state that you must hook the salmon in the mouth or let them go.

Forwarned is fore-armed! You may lose a lot of fish this way but don't be

discouraged - the run is just beginning - and so is the fishing adventure of

a lifetime in northeast Wisconsin!

This photo is an old Hungarian's idea of a joke. He stuck a 22 inch Walleye in the 36 inch King Salmon's mouth. Want to see where the Walleye was caught?