Time to blow off the rust

 The weather isn't making things any easier, but there's fish to be caught.

Major river areas (Dells, Depere, Winneconne) are all seeing action and giving up lots of fish. Close to home there's two games to play.

The Rock River walleye fishing has been a tough, but steady bite. I've been out a few times and I've been in touch with other folks that are regularly out in the spring. People are catching fish, but legals have been hard to come by...the bulk of the fish are just starting the move in, and the new size/bag limits have been keeping some fish out of the frying pan this year.

Jigging the holes and breaks with controlled drifts can produce. Using your electronics to find fish in the wood or in out of the current areas can also produce. I've put fish in the boat jigging, casting with plastics and pulling flies in the last week. The full moon is Monday evening, so I expect the bite and action to pick up dramatically over the next week, especially if the weather and temperature stabilizes.

Starting to hear some scattered whitebass in the river and down by Blackhawk, and I did catch a small one yesterday. The most consistent bite has been catfish.

On the area lakes, it is still very early but a few panfish are starting to make a spring transition. If the weather stabilizes and we get some warm afternoon sunshine, things will pick up dramatically. For now, look for crappies and bluegills to suspend around structure or wood in areas just outside of the traditional spring shallow bays and boat channels. A couple days where it stays sunny and a bit warmer and things will start happening quick. For now, keep your presentations small, and above the fish by 6-10 inches. Areas with current and some green weeds are a solid spot to start, and a small tail hooked minnow or a waxworm on a #10 or #12 red hook can ready do some early season damage.

I hope to be out some over the next two weeks, and I'll post as I am able. Once a week reports will start/return in mid April.

Nature takes care of itself

Hey gang,

I was out with my old roommate on the Rock River yesterday. We fished the area from the dam in Jefferson down past the Ditch and the S turn. We didn't have any notable success, but it was one heck of a day to be outside.

The water was just barely 42 degrees when we pulled out, which is usually about when things start to happen. (The wind was the real impediment yesterday)

But with the Full Moon on the 29th and the weather trend for the next 10 days....it is time to get out. Warm spring rain on the way, with three high pressure days during the Full Moon Cycle is about optimal conditions for any spring river walleye fishing.

After that, the area lakes, which are about 90% open, will be ready to start giving up some spring panfish (and if you're so inclined some catch and release pre-spawn bass fishing).

Here's my 2021 version of the annual Rock River Resources post.

For those of you who have asked, regular reports will start in mid-April as my online teaching semester starts to wind down and I can be on the water on a regular basis.

Cheers,

CT