Crash Camp
THE ULTIMATE WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE CRASH.
SUMMER ON THE LOWER WISCONSIN RIVER
In summer, the Lower Wisconsin River comes alive.
Smallmouth push bait to the surface.
The river goes electric.
And Crash Camp puts you right in the middle of it.
ABOUT THE TRIP
This is the original Black Earth Angling Co. camp. During our early years in business, anglers kept asking about overnight trips on the Lower Wisconsin River. We decided to make it happen. Ten years later, Crash Camp has become something we're genuinely proud of — a world-class overnight experience built around chasing smallmouth bass during one of the most extraordinary fishing phenomena in the Midwest.
Crash Camp runs on exclusive dates that align with the prime window of The Crash — a natural topwater feeding frenzy unique to the Lower Wisconsin River, where smallmouth bass corral massive schools of baitfish on the surface in explosive, school-wide blitzes. Picture numerous fish erupting simultaneously across open water. Anglers who've witnessed it compare it to saltwater fishing — stripers blitzing a bait ball on the East Coast — except it's happening on a freshwater river in the middle of Wisconsin. It's unlike anything most anglers have ever seen, and it only happens during a specific window each summer. Read the full story here. If you want to experience it, this is the trip.
The camp is set up on an island in the scenic Lower Wisconsin Riverway. Fishing runs in sessions timed around the best parts of the day — mornings on the water, afternoons back at camp during the heat of the day for a proper siesta and a meal cooked fresh on the island, then back out in the evening when the fish wake back up. Every meal is made in camp — breakfast before the first session, lunch on the sandbar, dinner around the fire. You'll sleep in spacious canvas wall tents on cots, with the river as your only neighbor. No electricity, no traffic, no itinerary beyond fishing and eating well. It's the kind of trip people come back for every year — and most of them do.
WHO IS CRASH CAMP FOR?
Crash Camp is a strong fit for anglers who:
Want more than a single day on the water
Are chasing a genuinely once-in-a-season fishing experience
Appreciate great food and good company as much as the fishing itself
Are comfortable sleeping in canvas tents on a remote river sandbar
Value being completely unplugged for two or three nights
You don't need to be an expert angler. You do need to be ready to have the time of your life.
WHY CRASH CAMP EXISTS
Most anglers never experience The Crash. They don't know when it happens, where to be, or how to fish it. We built Crash Camp specifically around that window — scheduling our dates each July to align with the peak of the phenomenon, positioning camp on the right stretch of river, and structuring fishing sessions around the times of day when the fish are most active. You're not just showing up to fish the Wisconsin River. You're showing up at exactly the right time, in exactly the right place, with guides who have been doing this for over a decade.
CRASH CAMP FILLS UP FAST
2026 CRASH CAMP DATES
Due to the dynamic nature of Crash Camp, it is best to reach out to us to discuss the details. Crash Camp is offered in 2 or 3 night time slots. Our camp for 2026 runs July 6th to July 14th. Please contact us if you are interested in booking.
Current Remaining Availability
July 10-12 (2 anglers/1 boat)
I’ve been fortunate to experience some pretty good Smallmouth fishing in my lifetime, but Crash Camp raises the bar to a whole new level. The itinerary is well planned, the setting is unique, the food is amazing, and the fish are hyper aggressive. Book the trip already and come experience it for yourself. I’ve got the “giggles” just thinking about it.
— Mike Kuhr
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
GUIDED FISHING
Fishing is broken into 3-5 hour sessions to maximize the best parts of the day and allowing downtime to beat the heat.
TERMINAL TACKLE
Leaders, tippets, and flies. Additional equipment may be available upon request.
FAMOUS CUISINE
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for each day booked. The finest camp food you’ll experience!
TWO NIGHTS LODGING
Relax after a full day of fishing at a fully outfitted camp on a sandbar.
THE BEAC CAMP EXPERIENCE
We are the fish camp specialists for a reason. Nothing beats a BEAC fish camp.
A GOSH DARN GOOD TIME!
We can’t control the conditions, but we can control our attitudes!
RATES*
*Rates subject to change. Prices are based per angler—two anglers per guide. For lessons and group trips please call or email.
GROUP SIZE
2 NIGHTS, 4 FISHING SESSIONS
2-4 Anglers
5+ Anglers
$1,400/Angler
Contact us
3 NIGHTS, 6 FISHING SESSIONS
$2,100/Angler
Contact Us
CRASH CAMP FAQs
-
Crash Camp is an opportunity to experience the great outdoors without modern conveniences, including electricity or running water. Accommodations will be in spacious canvas tents, equipped with cots for added comfort and to keep you off the ground.
For those who consider themselves seasoned campers, this experience might feel more like "glamping," while for less experienced individuals, it may be viewed as more rustic. Regardless of your camping background, we assure you that you will find peace and quiet, the opportunity for solitude—especially on weekdays—and an abundance of beautiful scenery all around you.
-
Due to the high demand for Crash Camp, the price is based on double occupancy. You can have your own boat, but the cost will reflect that of two anglers. If you are a solo angler interested in participating in Crash Camp, please let us know. We can do our best to connect you with another solo angler, but can not guarantee we’ll find you a partner. Finding a partner not only reduces costs, but also adds to the enjoyment of the camp.
-
Two people per 10’x10’ Kodiak canvas tent. Each person will have their own cot with an inflatable pad, and you are responsible for bringing your own pillow and sleeping bag.
-
We are camping outdoors without running water or plumbing. The bathroom setup is rustic yet manageable, and we do our best to make it comfortable. We dig temporary pit toilets, which include a bathroom shelter, latrine, bottomless bucket with a seat, peat moss, and toilet paper. Each group will have a newly dug latrine.
There are no showers, but the river offers swimming opportunities. If staying multiple nights or wishing to stay clean, bring baby wipes or biodegradable soap for river baths.
We provide soap and clean water for handwashing, as well as hand sanitizer. Note that the meeting location also has no facilities.
-
Our dates are scheduled well in advance, as is our planning for this event. We will fish and camp to make the most of our time together. Activities will continue in rain or shine, as long as the weather is not severe (no lightning or gale-force winds). While we cannot control the weather, we will do our best to prepare for any conditions.
Please remember that we all need to adapt to what nature presents us. Refunds will not be issued unless you miss over 75% of your fishing time due to severe weather. We encourage everyone to come with a positive attitude, ready to fish regardless of conditions. If overnight camping is not possible, we will arrange accommodations at a local hotel or provide rescheduling/refunds on a case-by-case basis.
-
As early as possible! Crash Camp fills up each year due to the increasing number of repeat “campers,” often resulting in limited spots by February for the July sessions. We sometimes have late cancellations, so it never hurts to check if we have a spot available!
-
This trip combines fishing from our jet boat with wet-wading, and it can be customized to suit your preferences. If you enjoy wet-wading, we can often fish from sandbars and shallow water. If wet-wading is not your preference, that's perfectly fine; we can fish from the boat all day. Just let us know what you prefer.
We're easier to get to than you might think.
DRIVE TIMES
MADISON
30m (19 Miles)
WISCONSIN DELLS
30m (22 Miles)
CHICAGO
3h 15m (170 Miles)
DUBUQUE
1h 20m (78 Miles)
INDIANAPOLIS
5h (350 Miles)
ST. LOUIS
5h 40m (380 Miles)
MILWAUKEE
1h 50m (106 Miles)
GREEN BAY
2h 45m (156 Miles)
MINNEAPOLIS
4h (260 Miles)
NEAREST AIRPORT
DANE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT (MSN)
4000 International Ln, Madison, WI 53704
https://www.msnairport.com/