Goose Island
My plans to go fishing changed after a tugboat accident on the Mississippi. So, my family and I found ourselves trying to find an accessible place to fish, and ended up on Goose Island in La Crosse County. Goose Island is a campground with many facilities and amenities to make it comfortable for the tent camper or hook-ups for the camper. I didn’t camp, and went a little ways down to a quieter spot away from the campers to fish.
I liked this spot a lot to fish at, and found it easy to get to. There’s a road that is right next on the backwaters of the Mississippi River. We parked right next to the river (where there’s ample parking for everyone), on the road by the banks of the River. There are plenty of picnic tables and benches to sit on at the bank of the river, and room to set up your own chairs. The only thing I would caution, is that the rocky bank is right next to the river, so make sure your wheelchair brake is on, or you’re stable enough to begin fishing.
I picked a bench to sit on, and had people around me when I needed to cast. It was a hot day, but there are many trees along the river that provide shade, so you can move your chair to wherever it’s best for you. There are bathrooms, but depending on where you park the bathrooms can be a ways away. We bought our bait at a gas station nearby, and were happy with what we found.
We fished for a few hours, and didn’t catch a thing. However, we still had fun and enjoyed a picnic on the banks of the river. For someone who just wants to try it for a few hours, this is a low-key location that is easy to get to. The maps on Fishidy provide you with an aerial view of the surrounding area.
Here’s the information on camping if you’re interested:
W6488 County Road GI
Stoddard, Wisconsin, 54658
Phone: 608 788-7018
One thing about the La Crosse area is there is NO SHORTAGE of public access fishing locations. There are close to a dozen boat ramps in a 5 mile radius, as well as several parks along the river and sloughs.
On a separate note, there are over 2500 miles of public access trout streams within a one hour drive of downtown La Crosse!