A SAFARI FOR THE
FISHERMEN
By Denny Murawska
If
you feel like summer is going by too fast, or perhaps it is a
little slow, try doing a bit of exploring with guide Steve
Slutsky and his Adventure Fishing Company. Sit down with a local
map and plan out your expedition, and Steve will do his utmost to
accomodate you. Being one who likes to fish while others are
asleep and off the water, I talked Steve into meeting me at the
doc in Williams Bay at 4:30 a.m. A cold front had moved in the
previous day and dropped the temperature by twenty degrees, while
a light sprinkle was beginning to fall. Not ideal conditions, but
there in the darkness, ready to go in his well-equipped
Smokercraft, was a smiling and optimistic guide. Poles were
rigged, a thermos of hot coffee offered, and away we went.
Lake Geneva can be a very humbling body of water to fish if you
don't know where to go and don't have a depth finder to locate
prime underwater structure. It was evident Steve knew where he
was headed and how he was going to adapt to the
less-than-promising weather. A slow presentation was called for,
and we managed to wake up a number of lethargic bass with it. As
the rain came down harder, there was never a mention of going in.
We were catching large-mouth, small-mouth, and the ubuquitious
rock bass, and getting plenty of bites to keep things
interesting. One member of our party of two had dug out his torn
"emergency" parka for the trip, and the under five
dollar bargain had begun to reveal more holes and tears than a
roll of duct tape could handle. Steve, of course, was
well-outfitted and talked cheerily of continuing, but after four
hours I was ready to head for a warm, dry place.
One favorite adventure you can book is a shot at lunker catfish
on the Rock River. This is a place where you can quickly lose
most other anglers and generally enjoy the solitude of some
laid-back fishing. Steve prefers to use cut bait over the
stink-bait some dangle in the current for cats. He keeps it fresh
too, threading a new chunk on every twenty minutes or so. When
the big catfish invariably does strike, you will have a tussle.
Their bulldog, head-shaking runs combined with the current of the
river make for a memorable skirmish.
Steve has lived in Idaho and California before coming to this
area, so he is well-versed in stream fishing and a host of
techniques designed to put fish in the boat. Kids and beginners
need not worry about any exotic casting skills. You will be shown
what you need to do on a skill level you are comfortable with.
Forgot your sunscreen? The clean and ample Smokercraft is
equipped with a large canopy to keep you from frying on hot days.
Even if you forgot to bring a snack or eat breakfast, Steve will
probably offer you something besides the cut bait. All you need
to bring is yourself, and an outlook for a gratifying time on the
water with a great guide and likeable person.
You can book your safari through Adventure Fishing Company
located near Elkhorn, by calling ( 262-742-3090 ).
By Denny Murawska
Copyright © 2000 The Week, all rights reserved
Orgininally published Sunday July 23, 2000 Page 6B, Sports Week
Reprinted with permision