We’re halfway to our funding goal!
We’re excited to say we’re already halfway to our funding goal for the 2025 Walleye Stocking campaign, thanks to generous donations from our lake association members! The High-Fishtrap-Rush Lakes Association is planning another walleye stocking event this fall. But in order to lock-in the same number of extended-growth walleye as we stocked two years ago, we…
Read MoreWake boat concerns dominate listening session
Four listening sessions held May 5 and 6 in northern Wisconsin were completely dominated by concerns over the impacts of wake-enhanced boating. Local residents, including HFRLA President Paul Egelhoff, attended state budget listening sessions organized by GOP legislators, but the main topic of discussion was the impact of wake-enhanced boating. Wake-enhanced boating, which uses ballast…
Read MoreLocal Loon Rescue
Early morning on April 27, Becky Cole was out paddling in her kayak on Papoose Lake in Vilas County when she came upon this loon trapped in this fyke net close to the boat landing. She contacted the Loon Ranger, June and Paul Lewandoski from a neighboring lake regarding this trapped loon. June called us…
Read MoreWalleye Stocking Success
As most of you know, the HFRLA funded an extended growth walleye stocking that was completed in Fall of 2023. Silver Moon Springs supplied 5,550 walleye with an average size of 6.5 inches; 3,800 were released into High Lake and 1,750 were released into Fishtrap Lake. Shocking survey. Eric Wegleitner (WDNR) completed a shocking survey…
Read MoreSpring membership update
If you are reading this, you most likely have paid your 2024-25 year dues — Thank you! We’ll begin collecting the annual dues for the upcoming 2025-26 season in May. You will receive an email requesting your dues and payment through our online membership portal. We hope this will streamline the board’s work by eliminating…
Read MorePresident’s Letter Spring 2025
Spring returns! Ice was out on Rush Lake on April 16th, and ice out for all of High and Fishtrap Lakes are likely days away. Loons arrived on Friday April 18th and announced their presence with dramatic calls and fanfare. One of the most exciting times of the year is here — spring migration is…
Read MoreHelp safeguard our visitors
As you know, Camp Manito-wish relies on our chain of lakes and the water access camping for many of its visitors annually. As their campers travel by canoe through our lakes, many of them experience outdoor and wildlife interactions for the first time in their lives. With this background, we must recognize our host role…
Read MoreStudy documents environmental impact of wake boats
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel earlier this year. We contacted the author, outdoor reporter Paul Smith, and we are reprinting the article in its entirety with his kind permission. Study on Connecticut lake documents greater environmental impacts of wake-enhanced boating Wave energy, propeller downwash and sediment disturbance all greater than…
Read MoreHRFLA 2025 Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the High-Fishtrap-Rush Lakes Association will be held on Saturday, June 28, at 9 a.m. at the BJ Community Center. In addition to the business meeting, our guest speaker will be Chuck Pils (husband of our resident Loon Ranger), who retired from a 33-year career as a wildlife biologist for the DNR.…
Read MorePresident’s Letter
The lakes and rivers have frozen, and we are finally starting to accumulate some snowpack. Unfortunately, the area is experiencing another low snow season, as last year. Hopefully, it’s ended now, and we will experience a late winter/ spring snow accumulation to help refill rivers and lakes after the spring thaw occurs this year.…
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