4.9(7 Reviews)Private Freshwater Fishing Trip in Wisconsin Rapids
4.9(7 reviews)
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Top Rated
Target Walleye, Crappie, and Pike on Wisconsin's premier lakesExperienced guide provides all equipment and knows best fishing spotsFullday and halfday options accommodate up to three anglers
Wisconsin Rapids sits right in the heart of some of the best freshwater fishing in the Midwest, and Ryan Hahn at Keep It Reelin' Guide Service knows exactly where to find the fish. This private fishing experience takes you to the area's top lakes and reservoirs where walleye, crappie, northern pike, and bluegill are waiting. Whether you're looking to fill the cooler or just want to spend quality time on the water, this trip delivers the kind of fishing that keeps anglers coming back to central Wisconsin year after year.
Your day starts early with Ryan, who's been guiding these waters long enough to read them like a favorite fishing magazine. He'll have the boat loaded with everything you need – rods, reels, tackle, and all the gear that separates a good fishing trip from a great one. You just need to bring your Wisconsin fishing license, some snacks, and whatever you like to drink. The trip covers up to two anglers, with room for a third person for an extra fifty bucks. Ryan runs both half-day and full-day trips, and trust me, when the fish are biting, you'll want every minute you can get on these waters. The lakes around Wisconsin Rapids hold some serious fish, and Ryan's boat gets you to spots that most weekend anglers never see.
Ryan doesn't mess around when it comes to fishing techniques. He's constantly switching up presentations, depths, and structures based on what the fish are telling him. One minute you might be trolling crankbaits over deep structure for walleye, the next you're working jigs around fallen timber for crappie. When the bite gets tough, that's when Ryan really shines – he'll have you trying different lures, hitting new spots, and adjusting your approach until you find what works. The guy carries enough tackle to stock a bait shop, and he knows how to use every piece of it. Whether the fish want to play shallow or deep, fast or slow, Ryan's got the setup that'll get them to bite. You'll learn techniques that work on these specific waters, and probably pick up a few tricks you can use back home.
"Had a great day on the water with Ryan Hahn! We started early with high hopes, but the fish definitely made us work for it. Ryan proved exactly why he is a pro. He never stopped grinding or switching up tactics, constantly adjusting our lures, depths, and structures to find where they were hiding. What impressed me most was his relentless attitude. When the bite got tough, Ryan just worked harder. Thanks to his expertise and determination, we completely turned a slow day around and came incredibly close to limiting out. I will absolutely be back to book with him again!" - David
"Ryan gave us far more than our money's worth, on my 4 hour guided trip with my wife's son and son-in-law. I am a very unaccomplished infrequent angler nearly 75 years old but the other two are much younger and better fishermen, and we all had a good time. Two things particularly impressed me. First, when Ryan agrees to a 4 hour fishing trip, he means at least 4 hours actual fishing, not counting time in the boat getting from point A to point B - we definitely were fishing over 4 hours. And before the trip but after booking it, he was honest enough to warn us fishing had been slow lately due to plentiful rains and offered us a chance to reschedule or cancel, but despite those conditions he got us to spots where we caught about a dozen walleye including one keeper and at least that many other fish during our excursion. I was very happy we booked our trip with him." - Leo
"Our guide Ryan was tremendous. He has a wonderful, happy personality which made it really enjoyable for our group to spend time with him on the water. He knows his fishing game as well, and came well prepared with gear for multiple different fishing techniques to try on our trip. We had really pleasant weather, but knew fishing would be tough due to a sharp drop in temperatures just prior to our trip. No matter, Ryan worked his tail off finding us fish to fight. And all the while, we shared stories and laughed. Wanna talk nuts & bolts about fishing techniques? Wanna giggle like a schoolkid? Either way...you're covered. Cannot recommend Ryan highly enough." - Eric
Walleye are the crown jewel of Wisconsin Rapids fishing, and for good reason. These golden beauties average 14 to 18 inches in these waters, with plenty of bigger fish lurking in the deeper holes. Walleye bite best during low-light periods – early morning, evening, and overcast days – making them perfect targets for serious anglers. They're structure-oriented fish that love rocky points, drop-offs, and weed edges. What makes walleye so special is their fighting ability combined with their reputation as the best-eating freshwater fish in Wisconsin. When you hook into a good walleye, you'll feel that distinctive head-shaking fight that gets your heart pumping.
Crappie fishing in central Wisconsin is nothing short of phenomenal, especially during spring when these silver slabs move shallow to spawn. You'll find both black and white crappie in these lakes, typically running 10 to 14 inches with some real slabs pushing over a pound. Crappie are schooling fish, so when Ryan finds one, you're usually looking at catching several more from the same spot. They love brushpiles, fallen timber, and weed lines, and they're absolute suckers for a well-presented jig and minnow combo. The fight might not be as aggressive as a pike, but watching a big crappie come up through clear water gets every angler's attention.
Northern pike are the muscle cars of Wisconsin lakes – aggressive, powerful, and always ready to
Our GPS-equipped motorboat cuts through Wisconsin's prime fishing waters with ease, getting you to the hot spots where walleye, crappie, and pike are biting. The onboard fish finder takes the guesswork out of locating schools below, so you can spend more time with your line in the water instead of searching blindly. Built for open-water lake fishing, this boat handles the bigger waters around Wisconsin Rapids comfortably while keeping you and one other angler positioned perfectly for casting. Whether you're working the drop-offs for walleye or targeting shallow structure for crappie, the stable platform gives you the room to fight fish without feeling cramped. The electronics help pinpoint structure and fish, but the real magic happens when you feel that first solid strike on Wisconsin's legendary fishing waters.
Lepomis MacrochirusBluegill might be small, but they pack serious attitude and make perfect targets for family trips or anyone wanting steady action. These scrappy panfish typically run 6-8 inches, though we catch plenty of palm-sized bulls during peak season. Look for them in shallow, weedy areas near docks, fallen logs, or any structure that offers cover. They're most active in spring and early summer, especially around spawning beds in 3-8 feet of water. What makes bluegill special is their willingness to bite and surprising fight for their size - they'll bend your rod and put up a determined battle. Plus, they're excellent eating with sweet, firm white meat. Kids love them because they're not picky about bait and provide non-stop action. My favorite setup is a simple bobber rig with a small hook and piece of nightcrawler. The secret is fishing right in the thick stuff where most people won't cast - that's where the big ones hide.
Pomoxis NigromaculatusCrappie are some of the tastiest panfish swimming in our Wisconsin lakes. You'll find both black and white crappie here - blacks have speckled sides while whites show vertical bars. Most run 8-12 inches and about a pound, but we catch plenty of slabs pushing deeper into that range. They love hanging around submerged timber, weed edges, and brush piles in 8-15 feet of water. Spring through early summer is prime time when they move shallow to spawn, but they bite year-round if you find the schools. What makes crappie special is their delicate white meat - arguably the best eating fish in these waters. They travel in groups, so once you locate one, there's usually more nearby. My go-to trick is using a small jig tipped with a minnow, working it slow and steady just above the structure. These fish have paper-thin mouths, so keep steady pressure but don't horse them in.
Esox LuciusPike are the ultimate ambush predators in our local waters - think of them as freshwater sharks with attitude. These toothy critters average 2-3 feet but can stretch past 40 inches when you find a real bruiser. They lurk in shallow, weedy bays and around fallen timber, especially during spring and early summer before retreating to deeper structure when it heats up. Pike hit hard and fight dirty with powerful runs and aerial jumps that'll test your drag system. While they're not the best table fare, the thrill of hooking into a 20-pound northern keeps guests coming back for more. They'll eat just about anything that moves - spoons, spinners, and large swimbaits all work great. The trick is using a steel leader because those razor-sharp teeth will slice through regular line like butter. Cast tight to cover and retrieve with an erratic stop-and-go action. When they follow your lure, speed up - that triggers their strike instinct.
Sander VitreusWisconsin Rapids sits in prime walleye country, and these golden beauties are what put us on the map. Most walleye here run 14-20 inches, though we regularly boat fish pushing 24-26 inches and 4-6 pounds. They're structure-oriented fish that love rocky points, sand bars, and weed edges in 12-25 feet of water. Those big reflective eyes help them hunt in low light, making dawn and dusk your best bet for consistent action. Spring and fall are peak seasons, but summer nights can be fantastic too. What guests love about walleye is the combination of a solid fight and that famous flaky, mild meat that's hard to beat on the dinner table. They're not flashy fighters like pike, but they pull hard and steady. The key trick around here is slow-trolling live nightcrawlers on bottom bouncers along the structure lines. Keep your speed under 1 mph - walleye want an easy meal, not a race.
4.9 out of 5.0Had a great day on the water with Ryan Hahn! We started early with high hopes, but the fish definitely made us work for it. Ryan p...
It was really fun. Ryan is outgoing and made catching lots of fish even better! Thank you!
Fantastic experience. I could not recommend Ryan more. My kids had a wonderful time and were able to catch more fish than we ever...
Ryan gave us far more than our money's worth, on my 4 hour guided trip with my wife's son and son-in-law. I am a very unaccomplish...
We had a great time with Ryan! He was terrific in helping my kids understand the boat and all the different ways we could catch fi...
My son and I just got back from an all day trip with Ryan. Great weather and a great guide! We got out on the lake early and start...
Our guide Ryan was tremendous. He has a wonderful, happy personality which made it really enjoyable for our group to spend time w...
Wisconsin