Help support area lakes with the We Really Kare Fishing Club

Our lakes are what make our county a place for all seasons. Whether you are out on the boat in the summer or out on the ice this winter, the fishing community comes alive in our area. But who looks out for the quality of our lakes and the fish habitat? This reason brought local fishermen together to establish the We Really Kare Fishing Club in April of 1983.
The club’s purpose is to stock fish in area lakes and improve the fish habitat and the quality of these lakes. The club first started with Wilson, Round, and Kusel lakes. Now, WRK supports 12 area lakes: Wilson, Round, Kusel, Alpine, Long, Pine, Gilbert, Big Twin, Big Hills, Little Silver, Napowan, and Mount Morris. WRK is a non-profit organization, with its main mission being to support our local lakes.
In 2025, WRK reported having over 600 members. Many of them also volunteer their time to make sure everything goes smoothly within the club. Through the support of volunteers and community members, WRK was able to plant $34,440 fish throughout the 12 lakes.
Many may recognize WRK from their annual Fisheree. The event was first held on Kusel Lake in 1987, and continues to be an annual tradition in the area.
The only time the Fisheree had to be held somewhere else was in 2023, when it was moved to the Wild Rose Lions Club due to the thin ice at the time. Organizers of the event recall the year before, when the ice had been quite sketchy but got lucky with only a few mishaps. This drove the hard decision to hold it at the Lion’s Club the following year to ensure safety for everyone involved. While this was not the typical year out on the lake, it gave Kusel a good break from all of the years of the Fisheree out on the lake.

The Fisheree is the club’s only money-making event, with all proceeds supporting their mission to care for our local lakes. Last year’s Fisheree helped raise$26,005.62, which all goes back towards supporting our lakes. Membership dues and donations from supportive community members allow WRK to plant a good number of fish each year.
Get out on any of the 12 WRK lakes and show off your big catch at the fishing contest and bring them down to Wild Rose. All the festivities will be held at the Wild Rose Lion's Club, so head down and enjoy raffles, food, and drinks. The whole family will have a chance to win a variety of nice prizes that have been generously donated by the community.
Each year, the kids’ free raffle has gotten bigger and bigger. Kids have a chance at winning a prize and choosing between a fishing pole, backpack, or tackle box, and new this year, life vests. They will also receive a free ticket for a chance to win a donated kayak.
The We Really Kare Fishing Club is more than just an organization—it’s a reflection of our community’s passion for preserving the lakes that define our home. Waushara County would not be the same without the passion the community has for protecting our lakes. Let’s continue to come together, protect our lakes, and leave a legacy of natural beauty and thriving fish habitats for generations to come.
Anyone interested in supporting or joining the club can email wrk1983@centurytel.net.