Fishing Report 8-28-10

Well gang, the transition to a fall fishing pattern is just around the corner, and fishing is set to get really good. You've probably noticed the days getting shorter, and even on days with a bluebird sky, the fishing is picking up. My clients and I landed 50 Bass and more than 30 bluegills in a trip this morning.

Fishing usually gets pretty good this time of year. The chief obstacle is often the weather. As Fall approaches, unstable weather can set in quick. As for right now, things have been fairly stable, and during stretches of stable weather, the fish will start to make predictable feeding movements a few times a day.

LM and SM Bass have begun moving into staging positions. Lots of fish are being taken off the edges of deep weeds and off the ends of longer points. Some fish have also been coming from the mid depth flats and shallow rocks. Start with topwater baits in the morning, then move to wacky worms, tubes and jigworms as the bite dies down. If you're fishing deeper, stick with live bait on a split shot and/or slip-sinker rigs or texas rigged plastics. If the bite is extra tough, try a shallow diving shad (white) colored crank around the rock/ weed transition areas.

Walleye have been active in 18-25 feet of water. Look for sandgrass with baitfish holding nearby and you'll be in them pretty quick on Lac Labelle, Pine or Oconomowoc. If you want to make the trip, the bite on the Koshkonong is just starting to really pick-up. Pulling bouncers with spinner harnesses, back trolling lindy rigs, working crankbaits over deep weeds or slip bobbering with live bait has been productive.

Northern Pike fishing continues to provide good action to anglers putting in the time. As fall sets in, the deeper fish will move to the weedlines. This is a great time to target them with spoons, small bucktails, or crankbaits. It may be a little early yet, but don't be afraid to start trying these techniques over the next 20 days or so. In the meantime you can still target smaller pike in the shallows with spinner or buzzbaits and larger fish with suckers, chubs or shiners along the deep edges of weedy points.

Panfish are still being caught deep, but look for them to move into mid-depth water over the next few weeks. For now, tightline vertically with splitshot or slip bobber them off deep weeds and sand with live baitin 15-22 feet of water. Transition areas from heavy to light weeds along a drop off is a key area.

Musky fishing is picking up after the late summer lull. Reports indicate that topwaters and bucktails are still catching a few fish early and late, but the majority of fish are being caught off the deepest weed edges on natural or perch pattern crankbaits, soft plastics and jerkbaits.

Cheers
CT

Not my biggest,

..but the most acrobatic musky I have ever caught. When this fish hit, he cleared the surface of the water by more than 5 feet before coming down with my topwater in his mouth.

Saturday, August 21, 6am. Oconomowoc Lake, Topwater

Fishing Report 8-19-10

Hey gang, I'm happy to say the dog days of summer appear to be on the way out. Fishing will only get better for a run of six to eight weeks now.

In General Terms :The cooler mornings are a key time to target active fish in shallow to mid-depth water. Look for them in the usual places, but watch for them to have periods of time where they feed actively. The changes in the photocycle and the length of day will be evident to the fish, and you can expect to seem them get active.

Panfish are still holding in deeper water, and will continue to do so for a couple of weeks. Look for them to suspend along weedlines in 12-22 feet of water, or to suspend over deeper sandgrass about 14-18 feet down over 40-50 feet of water.  Silver, Ashippun, Golden, School Section, Okauchee, Garvin, Nagawicka, Forest and North Lake have been the best.

Largemouth will come on two major patterns in the short term. On sunny days, you can find them around shallow docks, wood laydowns and scattered weed clumps.  As the sun gets up, look for them to move tighter to overhead cover, but here will be periods of time during the day where their activity level will increase for a short spell. Be ready to switch tactics as they switch on and off. Early mornings are key, especially around transition areas and over flats where the topwater bite can really be fantastic. Deeper fish will continue to use weededges and point in 12-18 feet of water, or be suspended over deep water about 6-12 feet below the surface. Some fish are relating to rockbars in 5-12 feet of water. Tube baits and skirted grubs are a great way to target these fish. Okauchee, Oconomowoc, Pine, Lac Labelle and Moose have all had active bites around rocky areas. Some fish are still being taken off the weedlines and off the weed flats by anglers flipping around heavy cover on Okauchee, Kessus, Golden and Nagawicka especially.

Smallmouth will start to make several foraging moves each day. When you are contacting active fish in shallow water, the bite can be incredible. Topwaters, including size 9 or 11 rapalas or poppers in natural patterns can get you started, but be ready to switch to tubes, skirted grubs or twister tails as the day progresses. When things are slower, look for them to be just off the first major break in deeper water. Crankbaits in white or chartreuse, spinners or live bait are better for the deeper fish. They will be actively hunting baitfish especially after the crawfish finish molting. Okauchee, Nagawicka, Pine, Oconomowoc, and Lac Labelle have been producing.

Walleyes will continue to hold in their summer patterns for another couple of weeks, but they will quickly make a move to shallower weedy areas as the baitfish move in for their fall spawning run. For now jigging or backtrolling with live bait around weededges or drop-offs in 12-18 feet of water is a good place to start, and be ready to adjust to deeper water on sunny days or shallower on cloudy or windy days.  A few fish are appearing on mid-lake structure but many are staging off main-lake points, especially where there is bottom transitions from rock to sand or from sand to muck. Trolling with bottom bouncers and spinner harnesses or drifting with live bait rigs are great ways to target these fish. Nagawicka, Oconomowoc,  Lake Koshkonong, Lac Labelle, and Pine lake have all been productive.

Northern pike activity has been hot all summer, and I wouldn't expect that to change. Smaller pike can almost always be found in shallow water around weed clumps and inside weededges adjacent to rock bars/shorelines. Larger pike can be taken trolling cranbkaits or backtrolling live bait along deeper weed edges, especially in 12-20 feet of water. Try Moose, Fox, Pretty, Kessus, Okauchee, Golden, Fowler Garvin, School Section and Ashippun Lakes for pike.

Musky reports have slowed down over the past 15 days, but I suspect that has as much to do with the heat as anything. For the next run, look for them to over weedy flats in 8-12 feet of water making for some great topwater or large bucktail action, or in deeper water suspended around baitfish which is perfect for a trolling bite. Action will pick up considerably in the weeks ahead. The usual lakes have been been producing, Pewaukee and Okauchee have been slower, but are still productive for anglers putting in the time.

Last thing, anglers are starting to report active white bass on the Rock River, Koshkonong and Lake Winnebago. Trolling with spinners or small cranks seem to be the best right now. Stay tuned for more.


It'll just get better.
Cheers
CT

On the water.....

Hey gang, I've been focusing the bulk of my personal and guiding efforts this year on our smaller local lakes, but I got out yesterday on Okauchee.

The conditions were quite different than I had imagined them to be before we hit the water. The water was very high, which I knew, but the water is very dirty even before one considers the heavy algae bloom going on right now.

I just wanted to point out that when conditions like this come along, it becomes critical to fish slower than normal. Put the crankbaits away, and break out the jigs, grubs and texas rigged plastics. Even a split shot rig can be a great option right now. While we were out yesterday, the key to getting bit was to do what Charlie Brewer once described as "polishing the rocks." It can be hard, given most people's run and gun tendencies to do this, but in one case yesterday, it took more than 20 casts to the same general spot to trigger a bite, and even then I only got bit when I stopped my jig for a couple seconds.

Falling water is one of those things that will almost always shrink a fish's active strike zone. By slowing down, you're giving them a little longer to consider your presentation. It worked well enough for us yesterday that we boated 9 bass and 11 northerns in just a couple hours of fishing. Back at the dock, people thought we were lying, the same people who we were watching fish spinners and cranks.

Just some food for thought.
CT

I get emails

 I'm not one who toots my own horn very often. I can usually tell that people who fish with me had a good time, but once in awhile you get an extra satisfied customer.

From a recent client:

"Chris, I wanted to write to thank you again for guiding me last Friday. I'm looking fwd to getting my boat wet again and practicing what you taught me. I have to say it was my best day fishing since Canada. I've passed along your name and email to several people, but I hope to book again this fall if your teaching schedule permits. I had a great time and learned a lot about our local lakes. You found the fish and made for a very entertaining and informative fishing partner. Best of luck to you and your family – I’ll definitely be seeing you again."
                Regards,
                Mike Dempsey

Thanks Mike,
CT

A couple of hot bites happening right now...

It's my annual Early August hot bite post. A couple of things you might want to try when you hit the water.

1.) On the local lakes, the crawfish will molt over the next 7-10 days. Expect the majority of the fish to move to muddy bottoms or rockbars. And not just the bass, walleyes, pike and musky will all get it on the feeding frenzy. Small crankbaits, skirted grubs or jig and craws will be your best presentations for the next two weeks.

2.) The late summer whitebass fishing has started on Lake Koshkonong. Trolling with spinner harnesses is a great way to locate schools, before stopping to fish through them with small spinners, jig and plastic combos or small stickbaits.

The water's still high, remember to check at the launch for speed and wake restrictions.

Cheers
CT

Guide Trip Special

Interested in a going on a guided fishing trip in August? I'll be running a special price on afternoon and evening trips.

Contact me for more details.

Fishing Report 7-31-2010

Greetings,

High water conditions continue on most lakes. Many retain a slow-no-wake restriction, others are closed. Make sure to check the posting board at the launches.

As of this posting the following lakes were closed:
Middle and Lower Geneessee

Slow No Wake:

Lower Nashotah, Upper Nemahbin, Lower Nemahbin, Crooked, North, Okauchee, Oconomowoc, Lac Labelle, Fowler, Pewaukee, Kessus, Moose, Koshkonong and Rock River, Big Muskego

Water is high on Nagawicka, Silver and Golden. With the rain, there's a good chance the lakes will remain at slow-no-wake for some time.

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It's August, and the fishing has reflected that. Expect to find summer patterns on local lakes. Be aware of the high water, and consider that the shallow water you are used to fishing is a couple feet deeper right now.

Panfish are schooling over deeper water; look for them to suspend out/off weedlines the next couple weeks. The ends of points will hold fish just before/just after dark and you can make some incredible catches. Humps have been holding some nice schools, as has the sand grass in 18-22 feet of water. Panfish leeches, helgramites, leaf worms and waxworms on plastic below slip bobbers have been working consistently.

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Bass fishing has been steady, but the bite seems to have slowed down a bit. While out this week, we brought in lots of fish, but they were smaller than average. The bite frequently was short and light, and the trick was to fish slower.

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Walleye fishing has moved to deeper water. Look for them in 18-25 feet, or suspended over the thermocline. Deeper standing weeds (rather than just sandgrass) have been holding fish.

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Northern continue what has been an epic season for them. Shallow fish can be taken around weedclumps on spuinners and buzzbaits, but the bigger fish continue to be caught on slip-sinker rigs tipped with larger live bait fished along the deeper breaks.

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Musky fishing has been slow but steady the last few weeks. There's been an active topwater bite especially in the low-light morning hours. Walk the dog style baits have been generating some strikes as have propbaits. Lots of follows are being reported, so make sure to do your figure eights.


Good luck out there.
CT
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Fishing Report 8-22-10

Greetings,

First Off: The high water conditions on many lakes are sure to have been complicated by the heavy rains this week. Expect several local lakes to be declared slow-no-wake for the weekend. Make sure to check at the launch for postings.


Pike are chasing bait and are very active. Look for them in weed clusters in water between 8-15 feet and suspended off main lake structure in 18-26 feet of water. Spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits or suspending jerkbaits will catch the shallow fish, spoons, crankbaits or suckers on a slip sinker rig will catch the deeper fish.

The quality of the bass bite has been tied to the weather. On days with stable weather and some clouds, the bass will bite. On days with changing conditions, the fish are exhibiting a traditional neutral method with a small strike zone. Live bait will trigger neutral fish, as will a slow falling vertical presentation like a wacky worm, jig and chunk or a light jigworm. Many fish are using the outside weededges in 8-15 feet of water.

Panfish are suspending over deeper water or hugging the bottom near deep structure. Look for them 8- 12 feet down over 20+ foot of water Deep sandgrass is holding some nice gills right now. Try fishing vertically with small jigs and leeches for bigger fish.

Walleye trolling is starting to generate some consistent action. Daytime, slow trolling with spinner harnesses in 15-22 feet of water has been productive, especially on the stable weather days with a little wind. Night time trolling with crankbaits is starting to turn on. Work rock and sand transition areas in 12-18 feet of water, and move deeper if you aren't catching fish. Deep weed edges have been the most consistent areas.

Musky fishing has been slower, but steady.A few fish are still being taken on suckers, but cowgirls, bucktails, sliders and bulldogs fished over submerged weeds have all taken fish the past week to 10 days. Remember to do your figure eights for reluctant biters.

Good Luck,
CT

Vote for Nicole Ochoa

If you are so inclined, go here to vote for Nicole Ochoa, for Granite State Girl. Nicole does alot of modeling for the fishing industry including Bassfury and Bass Edge.

Nicole's Facebook Profile and Portfolio are here.

Cheers,
CT

Message from Mike Cox

Dear Friends,

After months of further inaction by President Obama and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, we're going to court for round two against Asian carp.

Today my office filed a new lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to force the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Chicago water authorities to take emergency action to block Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan.

The states of Ohio, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have all joined Michigan in this new legal effort to fight Asian carp and accelerate efforts to develop a permanent solution to protect the Great Lakes.

While you know the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take our case, they did not dismiss the merits of our case.

So today, we are suing the Obama administration and the Army Corps of Engineers, who are charged with protecting public resources and overseeing the management of the Chicago Area Waterway System in partnership with local water authorities in the Illinois federal court.

Asian Carp Found: We Need Emergency Action NOW

Our worst fears came true after Illinois authorities announced on June 22nd that a Bighead Asian carp was found in Lake Calumet, within striking distance of Lake Michigan. And when you find one carp, the experts say there are more nearby.

Stunningly, despite the mounting evidence, the Army Corps and Chicago authorities refused to temporarily close the O'Brien and Chicago locks. They've failed the apply fish poison in every location that tested positive for Asian carp eDNA. They've failed to comprehensively address all pathways linking Lake Michigan with carp-infested Illinois waterways. And they have failed to sufficiently accelerate the permanent separation of the Great Lakes Basin from the carp-infested Chicago Area Waterway System.

With every day that passes without serious action, the health of the Great Lakes and our $7 billion commercial and recreational fishing industries remain at risk. We cannot sacrifice thousands of jobs.

Inaction Won't Be Tolerated

For the past several months, the Army Corps has maintained its vocal commitment to combating Asian carp. The problem is, when you drill down past the rhetoric, all you'll find are half-hearted, insufficient attempts to confront the Asian carp invasion.

Because of their lack of urgency and inadequate measures - like poisoning canals in only a few spots - we have already faced Asian carp swimming their way toward Lake Michigan.

In today's lawsuit, we are calling on the Army Corps to step up and take all available efforts to block Asian carp passage in the waterways linked to Lake Michigan.

We're calling for commonsense emergency measures like block nets, fish poison where Asian carp eDNA has been detected, mesh screens on all sluice gates and temporary closures of the O'Brien and Chicago locks, except as needed for public health and safety.

Keep Up the Fight!

Thank you for all you have done to support our efforts to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. The fight is not yet over, and the more supporters we have on our side to build a public outcry, the better.

Keep in mind that President Obama can order the Army Corps to act on these commonsense steps any time. He doesn't need a court to tell him to do it. But until he acts, I pledge to fight, along with several Great Lakes attorneys general and our allies in Congress, to force the Corps to act.

Please forward this email to your friends, family and neighbors and urge them to call the President to demand action right away. Be sure to forward this email to at least five friends today!

If you haven't joined the conversation on Facebook, please sign on to our page today. Every day citizens are driving the conversation about why they love the Great Lakes and what they've done to protect them.

Sincerely,

Mike Cox
Attorney General

Fishing Report 7-12-2010

Hey gang. If you're heading out, traditional summer patterns are what's happening on the lakes right now.

Panfish have moved to deep water for the most part. They can be a little tricky to find, but if you can get on some, you won't believe the size and quantity of panfish you can pull out of deeper water. My best suggestion for you is to drive slowly just off the weedlines and the deep edges of points with your electronics on. Panfish typically school up over 18-28 feet of water about 6-12 feet down. They'll look like a cloud on your graph. Use slip bobbers or tightline vertically with leeches, panfish plumpers or pieces of nightcrawler to target these fish on a drift. Ashippun, Silver, Phantom, Middle and Lower Genessee, Garvin, Okauchee, Golden, Lower Nashotah and Moose have all been productive.

Largemouth Bass are running three of their usual summer patterns. On sunny, warmer days the piers and the slop are producing. Wacky worms, tubes and shakey heads are producing around the piers, while rats, scum frogs, strike king or zoom frogs are pulling them out of the slop. Deeper fish have schooled up on the weedlines, the end of points and especially over deeper rocks. Texas rigs, drop shot and swim baits are catching these fish. The fish on the weed flats are being taken on topwater, especially early in the evening as the sun sets. Buzzbaits, poppers and spooks are all catching fish. Okauchee, Nag, Kessus, Moose, Golden, Pewaukee, Lower Nemahbin and Lac Labelle have been consistent.

Smallmouth bass have been using weeds along dropoffs, or suspending over deeper water. They are hard to catch when in this neutral mode, you'll have to catch them when they come into shallow water to feed at first and last light. Top-waters, wacky, jig and chunks and tube-baits are all catching fish. Oconomowoc, Pine, Nag, Lac Labelle and Okauchee have given up fish.

Walleye fishing is slow but steady. Fish are using weeds in 18-22 feet on most lakes. Jigs tipped with live bait or lindy rigs are catching fish, but the better fish are coming at night by anglers trolling with stickbaits, shad raps or bottom bouncers. Try:North, Pine, Lac Labelle, Fowler, Oconomowoc and Pine.

Northern pike fishing has been great this entire year, and the bite continues. Look for them on the weedflats and target larger fish with live bait along the deep weedlines. Lots of smaller pike can be caught throwing spinner or buzzbaits around clumps of shallow weeds, while the bigger fish are coming on shiners or suckers on slip sinker rigged trolled very slowly on the outside edges. Moose, Okauchee, Nag, Ashippun, Golden, Pretty and Lower Genessee.

Musky fishing has been tied to the weather recently. The cloudy days are producing, the hot sunny days have been slower. Most fish are being caught off deep structure or while trolling. A few are being caught on topwaters near the deep weed edges on the larger flats. Crankbaits are producing the trolling fish, jerkbaits and soft plastics are catching the casting fish. Walk the dog and prop baits have been the better topwater options lately.

Cold Front Moving In.

Well gang, after that blast of hot humid weather, it looks like a cold front is going to be moving through over the next few days.

Expect the fish to pull really tight to cover for a little bit. It's a great time to go big fish hunting.

CT

Seeking information

Greetings,

I am looking for information on how to donate fishing gear to members of the armed forces serving overseas or who are returning from Afganistan or Iraq.

If you know of organizations that handle this please email me.

Thanks,
CT

Holiday Weekend Fishing Report

Big Holiday Weekend Ahead, with lots of boats on the water. Be careful out there. Your best bet is to get an early start. You can get some serious fishing in before most of the ski boats and pleasure craft hit the water.

Some area lakes are slow no wake due to high water. Make sure to check the signs at the launches for the latest restriction notices.

Panfish have moved to their summer patterns. Small panfish can be caught in shallow water, especially around docks or swim platforms. The better sized fish are being caught out of the deeper water, where they are suspending about 12 feet down over 18-25 feet of water. There's a third batch which is relating to weed clumps in 6-12 feet of water, and I saw a batch of nice crappies doing that when I was out today. Best Bets: The Gennessee Lakes, Silver, Ashippun Upper and Lower Nashotah, Fowler, Garvin, Okauchee, Nagawicka, Forest and Pine.

Largemouth bass are relating to the heavy weed growth in 8-15 feet of water. These fish can be taken on swimbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, texas rigged worms, nightcrawlers or small suckers fished just along the outside edge of the weedbeds. Skipping piers is producing a few fish as well. Wacky Worms, Shakey heads and tubes are all producing. If you're an early riser, topwater poppers, spooks and buzzbaits are catching some nice fish off the weedflats in 5-12 feet right now, but only consistently at first light. Best Bets: Okauchee, Moose, Golden, Nagawicka, Pine, School Section and Kessus.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been spotty, but there are lots of fish using rocky points and bars both early and later in the day. It seems like most fish are patrolling the flats, and most anglers are reporting that they are not finding active smallies near weeds. Skirted grubs, tubes, wacky worms, shakey heads and small suckers are catching some consistent bags of fish. If you see lots of baitfish around rocky areas, try a jerkbait or floating rapala. Best Bets: Nagawicka, Pine, Lac Labelle and Oconomowoc.

Walleye fishing has been slow with the bright sunshine this past week, but anglers putting in the time are sill catching a few fish. Fish are being caught along shallow inside and outside weed edges or off deeper flats with sandgrass. Vertically jigging with live bait or plastics has been better during the day, while throwing cranks and minnow baits has been producing early and late. Suckers, backtrolled on lindy or a slip-sinker rig has been producing the larger fish. Lac Labelle, Druid, Oconomowoc, Pine, Nagawicka and Upper Nehmabin have been the best area lakes. Trollers are catching some on Lake Koshkonong pulling spinner harnesses behind planers.

Pike fishing has been red hot lately. Lots of smaller pike are using the shallow weedflats to feed on small gills and juvenile perch. Spinners baits, lipless crankbaits, small bucktails or buzzbaits will produce when fished tight to weedclumps. Looking for something bigger? Move out to the weedline in 12-18 feet of water and fish with suckers or large shiners on a slip sinker rig. Moose, Kessus, Golden,  Nagawicka, Garvin, Okauchee and School Section are your best pike lakes right now.

Musky fishing has been steady with lots of nice fish coming in. Some anglers have been catching suspended fish out over deeper water pulling crankbaits. Some fish are also being taken by targeting points along the deepedges of the weedline by fisherman casting with bucktails, gliders, jerkbaits and swimbaits. Suckers on a quick strike rig continue to convert fish, even this late into the summer. Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Okauchee, Garvin and Fowler have all had good Musky action this past week.

Good Luck, and stay safe.
CT

Fishing Report 6-30-10

Just a quickie for Midweek, I'll have a full report up for the weekend.


Bass continue to bite along traditional summer patterns. Fish are being caught off docks, out of the slop and along rockbars in shallow water. Weedlines and deepwater points are also holding fish right now. For the shallow water fish, use jig/chunk, skirted grubs, wacky rigs or live bait on a light lindy rig. For the deeper fish, try deep diving crankbaits, texas rigs or live bait on a slip sinker rig,

The Pike fishing has picked up in the last ten days. It had been fairly steady, but anglers are reporting some faster action recently. Look for quality pike along deeper weed edges, but action fish can be caught around shallow weeds of dark bottom flats. Live bait, either suckers or shiners on a slip sinker or lindy rig has been very productive.

Musky action continues to be fairly steady, with most fish coming out of water in the 12-22 foot range. A handful of fish are still foraging in the shallow rocky areas, especially in the mornings.

The panfish bite has moved out to deeper water. The majority of the fish are suspending over 18-30 feet of water, or hanging close to the bottom in sandgrass in 15-22 feet.

Check in Friday for a full report for the Holiday Weekend.

Good Luck
CT

This week looks extra special.....

If the weather forecast is to be believed, this Thursday has the potential to be one of the best fishing days of the summer. Although not ideal condition wise, the run of stable weather leading up to Thursday will mean the best bite will occur on Thursday.

We haven't had solid batch of stable weather yet this season.

 CT

In town for Summerfest or the 4th of July?

I'd love to take you fishing on one of our area lakes. I can do half or full days.


Give me a call (262)-893-2183 or email me.

Fishing Report 6-25-2010

The weather has been unstable the last week, but fishing conditions are pretty typical for this time of year.

The Bluegills are done spawning for the most part, and although small gills can still be found in the shallows, better panfish are starting to appear on the deeper weedlines or suspended over deep water. Silver, Golden, Ashipunn, both Lower and Middle Genessee, Lower Nashotah and the Madison lakes have been giving up some good batches of panfish.

Bass are moving in their summer patterns, anglers over the reported catching fish both shallow and deep. Docks, slop and the deep weedlines all have active fish. Largemouth have been active on Okauchee, Oconomowoc, Golden, Kessus, Nag, Forest and Pine, but I'm sure most area lakes have active fish on weed edges in 6-12 feet of water. Piers have been very good during the hot parts of the day, and the slop bite is picking up. Topwater fish are being caught before 8am over flat areas adjacent to deep water, especially areas with small patches of weeds.

Muskies have been very consistent. Many anglers have begun trolling for them in deeper water, but other anglers have reported raising fish along the deepest weedlines. Anglers still report catching a number of fish using live suckers. Quality fish (40+) have been reported from Labelle, Okauchee,  Fowler, North, Oconomowoc and Pewaukee lakes in the last week.

Walleye action has been above average. Spinner harnesses with leeches, back trolled on lindy rigs has been the hot bite this season. Suckers fished on a split shot rig have been taking some better fish, especially in the late evenings. Weededges and sand grass are the areas to key on, especially in 18-22 feet of water. Lac Labelle, Pine, Nagawicka and Oconomowoc have been giving up fish.

Lake Koshkonong has had a hot bite going on in the main basin in 4-6 feet, but the weather kept many anglers off the water the last few days. Pulling harnesses or cranks has been giving up a mixed bag of walleyes, pike and whitebass. Most walleye action is coming at less than 2mph when trolling.

Pike action has been very consistent. Fish the weed flats and outside edges with spinners or live bait. Smaller, wide wobbling crankbaits, buzzbaits and lipless crankbaits. Try Moose, Golden, Okauchee,  School Section, Kessus or Nag for Pike.

Good Luck,
CT

Fishing Report 5-3-10

June Already? You'd wouldn't know it by the water and the fish behavior.
Right now most lakes are in the low 70s with a few of the bays in the mid 70's.  Weed growth varies from lake to lake.


Bass Fishing has been steady, with the warmer days producing some quality bags of fish. Fish are starting to move into an early summer pattern, with lots of areas and techniques producing. On cloudy days, topwater and crankbaits are catching lots of fish over open water areas, especially weed patches on the mid-depth flats in 6-12 feet of water. On sunny days, especially those with lots of wind, fish are tighter to cover or using shallow rock bars in 3-8 feet of water. Plastics, flipped, skipped, pitched, wacky or texas rigged are great ways to target these fish. Live bait on slip sinker rigs are catching some nice fish for anglers making solid drifts over productive areas.



Pike fishing has been great, with lots of quality fish coming in. The number one way to catch pike right now is a small sucker or medium to large shiner on a slip sinker rig with a flourocarbon leader. Drift along the deeper edges of weeds and you'll find some fish. Lipless crankbaits and spinner baits are also producing, especially in the shallow water.


Musky fishing continued to be steady last week. The larger fish have started to move out to the breaks, but there's still a solid number of fish patrolling the shallow water, feeding on schooled up panfish.

Walleye fishing has been pretty good. Fish on Lac Labelle, Oconomowoc, Pine and Fox Lake are still using shallow weeds and weed edges. Jigging with live bait or drifting with lindy rigs/ spinner harnesses has been productive Trolling with Shad Raps is picking up on both Winnebago and on Koshkonong. Slower speeds over the deeper part of the basins appears to be the trick. Pulling boards is working, but more than one angler has reported doing much better with hand held rods.


Bluegills are spawning on most area lakes. If you're looking for action, areas of beds can be found in the shallows, but if you want some bigger fish, move out to 9-15 feet of water and look for beds in gravel and sandy areas. Vertical fishing with a split shot and live bait rig works great, as does pulling a 1/8 ounce lindy rig with a short leader through likely areas. (Try panfish leaches or leafworms) It's not the bobber approach which works great in the shallows, but it can really produce some quality keepers.



Good Luck,

CT

Charity Musky Tournament

Saw this at Lake-Link:

Lighthouse Youth Center will conduct its 3rd Annual Muskie Tournament on Pewaukee Lake on June 5th.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the outreach work of Lighthouse. The tournament will run from 7:30 to 12:30.

Breakfast, lunch and launch fees are included in the registration fee.

For more information check out www.lighthouseyouthcenter.com or contact Pastor Buske via email or phone at 414.477.8379 or james.buske@lighthouseyouthcenter.com

PRE-MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FISHING REPORT

Greetings,

Here's what's happening around the area:


Thewater temperatures are in the mid to high 60's on most area lakes. Most of the Gamefish have spawned, and the panfish are starting to move up.

Musky have been fairly active on our local lakes the past few weeks, and quite a number of quality fish have been caught, especially on the windy days. A solid shallow pattern has been working for anglers who put in the time. Look for fish on the shallow weed flats in 6-10 feet of water. Scattered weedclumps with visible baitfish or panfish are high percentage areas right now. A few fish are also using the first deep break in 12-18 feet of water where green weeds have started. Gliders, swimbaits, bucktails and jerkbaits have all been consistent producers.

Best bets: Okauchee, Oconomowoc, Lac Labelle, Pewaukee, and Fowler.

Northern Pike have been using the areas where there is new weedgrowth. Anglers targeting bass have been catching a number of pike ranging from smaller snakes to quality 30+" fish. Some of the larger pike are using the deep weedlines in 12-18 feet. Spinnerbaits,small bucktails, lipless crankbaits, floating rapalas and buzzbaits will all catch fish in the shallow water when fished around submergent green weeds. Large shiners or small to medium sized suckers suspended underneath a float, longlined on a split shot rig, or fished deep on a slip-sinker setup are your best options for live bait.

Best Bets: Nagawicka, Golden, Okauchee, Fowler, Moose.

Walleye have been active in cycles that match our current weather patterns. On warmer, windy days they have been biting fairly well. On cooler days, especially those with a North or east wind, they have been fairly lethargic. Some fish are patrolling the shallows in the morning and evening hours, but the bulk of the fish are holding around rocky points and mid-depth weeds in 8-12 feet of water. Crankbaits like rapala shad raps are catching fish as is controlled drifting with live bait. Slow and steady have been the operative words. A nightcrawler, leech or small sucker on a lindy rig or long lined split shot setup have been the most consistent producers. A few fish are being caught around weeds using jig and plastic or jig and minnow combinations.

Best Bets: Pine, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Lac Labelle, the Nehmabins and Fox Lake.

Largemouth Bass  Fishing for bass has been spotty, and some days are much better than others. With the sunny, still days we had, the bite has dropped off a bit, but with some cooler weather and clouds, it's sure to pick up. Look for bass around shallow weeds, wood laydowns or docks. Rocky areas, especially points adjacent to deep water have been holding the most fish. Wacky worms, shakey heads, swimbaits, texas rigged lizards or stickbaits, lipless crankbaits, and jigs with a chunk or craw trailer have all been producing. Natural colors have been better than flash this season. Nightcralwers or large leeches on a lindy or split shot rig or large shiners under floats fished around piers or along rockbars have been catching a few nice fish.

Best Bets: Okauchee, Golden, Keesus, Pine, Nagawicka, Buelah, Moose.

Smallmouth Bass Fish are patrolling the shallow bars a few times a day, especially on the warmer sunny days. Lots of fish are suspending in deeper water just off of shallow structure. Rocky/sand transition areas have been holding some fish who are foraging for craws. Suspending jerkbaits, tubes, wacky worms, swimbaits and lipless crankbaits in a crawfish pattern have all caught fish within the last ten days.

Best Bets: Oconomowoc, Lac Labelle, Pine, Nagawicka, Lower Nehmabin, Beaver.

Crappie Look for them around shallow cover in 2-8 feet of water. Tight-lining over deeper wood or weeds in 8-12 feet has also been effective on some lakes. Tail-hooked fatheads, plastics or hair jigs tipped with a waxworm and rosie reds are your best live bait options for crappies.

Best Bets: Pine, Okauchee, Kessus, Golden, Garvin, Ashippun, Lake Five.

Bluegills are beginning to move into the shallow water on many area lakes, but the better sized fish have still been coming from anglers targeting them in a little deeper water. Shallow fish will be near sandy bottom areas with scattered weed growth, but if you just want the kids to catch a few fish, try fishing around any piers that are in the water adjacent to deeper water (6-10 feet). If you want to target eating size gills, tightline vertically while drifting along weedlines in deeper water (as deep as 22 feet) or look for them on the end of sandy/gravel points in 12-15 feet of water. Panfish plumpers, plastics tipped with waxworms or spikes, panfish leeches or redworms are your best live bait options.

Best Bets: Golden, Silver, Garvin, Lower Nashotah, Forest, Upper and Lower Phantom, Ashippun, Upper Geneessee and Lake Five.

Catfish are being caught on the Rock River. Cutbait, stinkbait and nightcrawlers fished around the heads of the deeper holes has been producing some keepers. The area between Watertown and the Jefferson Dam has been red hot the last few weeks.

Trout stocking was a sucess this year on out local waters, with rainbows and brook trout still available. Lower Nashotah, Fowler, Lower Geneessee and Paradise Springs all recieved fish, as did several of the county park ponds. A complete list of stocked waters is available from the Wisconsin DNR website. Look for these fish in the deeper water basin or deeper pools on the creeks. In the area lakes, they can be anywhere from just below the surface to 25 feet down over deeper water. Tightlining with minnows, redworms or panfish plumpers will catch fish when you find them.


Good Luck Out There.
Chris Terry

Local Tip....

Spider Grubs and You.


I have been out fishing several times the last two weeks, and I'm noticing a couple of things.

1.) Many (but not all) lakes have very limited weed growth

2.) There's lots of baitfish roaming around, but I'm not catching many bass near areas where they are.

Combined, that means just one thing.....the bass are foraging for crawfish.

It makes sense, given the weather we've had, and on lakes with weedgrowth that's behind schedule, the bass will relate to rock, gravel or sand/gravel areas. Crawfish are an excellent source of protein, something larger fish need after the spawn.

Consider using a  skirted or spider grub on a leadhead jig. I like the Chompers brand, but there are many versions, including Kalins, Powerbait and Yum. I fish these baits on a 3/8oz leadlead, football or standup jig head.

Watermelon, green pumpkin or watermelon red are my three favorite colors, but rootbeer green and pumpkin are also great on our local lakes.

Fishing them is easy. Throw it out, let it sink to the bottom, and drag it very slowly back to the boat. After you cast it out, position yourself so that your rod and line are straight out from each other, in line essentially. Hold the rod out from yourself at about ten oclock high, and with line tight, lift the rod slowly to about a twelve oclock position. As you pull the bait along, it will catch on rocks, weeds and other obstructions. When you feel this happen, stop pulling and start shaking the rod ever so slighty. The bait will either bounce over the obstruction or chances are you will get a bite. If you loose contact with the weight of your jig, (the key is to always be in contact with it) make a hook setting motion.

Last point, and its key: Don't move the bait or the rod quickly, do as the Famous Charlie Brewer used to say, polish the rocks. I always tell people, you are fishing it slow enough, if you are fishing it half as fast as you think is slow enough.

Remember, when you land that big one, C-P-R for the future.

Good Luck,
CT

Fishing Report 5-21-2010

Well, I was out and about, and its time for another fishing report.

A couple of things about conditions. First, the water is still cool, with temps in the high fifties to low 60's. Weed growth is limited, and water clarity is above average. All in all, this can make for some tough fishing.

Bass are in a post spawn mode, and many fish are patrolling the shallow areas, foraging. They seem fairly active, but very spooky in the clear water. Slow fishing is key. Jig/chunk, wacky worms, texas rigs, and floating stickbaits are all great choices. Try Okauchee, Garvin, Fowler, Moose, Ashippun, School Section, Middle Genessee, Nehmabin and Nagawicka.

Northern Pike are using the shallow weeds that have popped up, and are feeding on small baitfish, especially juvenile bluegills. Cranks, lipless crankbaits, buzzbaits or spinnerbaits are all catching fish. Live bait options include suckers or large shiners. Moose, Kessus, Golden and Nag.

Musky have been active, and lots of fish are coming in. Pewaukee, Oconomowoc and Okauchee have all been consistent producers. Jerks, sliders, slammers and bucktails are all producing. A few fish have come on sucker rigs. Look for fish near shallow green weeds or along the breaks in 12-18 feet of water.

Walleye are schooled up, and patrolling the shallows on many lakes. Look for baitfish near obvious breaklines and fish hard. Walleyes are fairly spooky in the clear water, so keep your distance, and fish with split shot or light lindy rigs. Oconomowoc, Lac Labelle and Pine.

Panfish action has been hit or miss. The cooler water has not pulled the schools into the shallows in significant numbers. The best bites have been on the smaller lakes, especially the dark bottom ones. Bays on Okauchee, Forest, School Section, Golden, Ashippun and Nag.

Whitebass are still coming in to anglers who put in the time along the Rock River. The best action is between Fort Atkinson and the Jefferson Dam.


Good Luck

Quickie Fishing Report 5-16-2010

Finally, some sunshine and stable weather.

Here's a quick update on local conditions.

Water temps are in the mid 50's to mid 60's on most area lakes. Weed growth is behind schedule for this time of year, especially on the clear water lakes.

Bass have spawned on many lakes, but a few fish are still protecting fry or nests. Lots of fish are patrolling the shallows, but they are on the smaller side. Plastics, crankbaits, and live bait have all been catching fish.

Pike are using shallow weeds and reedy areas and are chasing juvenile baitfish and panfish. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits are all taking fish.

Musky are moving into transition areas. Fish are making foraging runs a couple times a day into the shallow water, but are holding and feeding on baitfish in 8-22 feet of water.

Tune in Wednesday for a full report.

Cheers
CT

Fishing Report 5/5/2010

Well gamefish season is off and running. Here's a quick rundown.


Bass are in a spawn to post spawn mode. A few fish are still nesting, but many have completed the process. Expect to see males cruising the shallows or defending fry, but the bigger fish will be moving out to the first or second break. Bass fishing is likely to be a hit or miss proposition for a week to 10 days on most area lakes.

Pike action was steady, with lots of smaller fish being reported. Not surprising. Look for pike in shallow weedy areas. Ratttletraps and spinner baits are great options right now, as is a smaller sucker underneath a float.

Musky action was steady, with several large fish reported. Lots of follows, especially from larger fish. look for them in 5-10 feet of water near weeds or adjacent to spawning areas. The action is sure to pick up after the next batch of weather moves through.

Walleyes were almost absent for the opener by most reports. A few fish are still being caught in Jefferson/Ft Atkinson, but the bite on the local lakes was reported as pretty slow. I'd dive it a week, but if you're out look for them on shallow weedy points, and expect them to feed in little spurts a couple times during the day.


Good Luck,
Chris

Opening Weekend-Followup

Sounds like fishing was a little slow for the opener.....

Fishing Report 4-25-10

Well gang, the weekend weather kept most people off the water, but if you are heading out this week before the opener, here's what you can expect.


Water temps on most area lakes are in the mid to high 50's. There's not much higher than that, but some of the deeper, clear-water lakes are on the cooler end of the scale. Panfish continue to bite, especially on the warmer sunny afternoons. Bluegills are moving in the shallow bays, and crappies are using weed and wood in shallow water.

There's a significant number of largemouth bass in the shallows in a late-prespawn movement. I've seen several fish paired up on nests the last two times I was out. Typically this behavior is more common with water temperatures over 60 degrees, but there's no question the fish are moving in.

Remember: Inland Lakes are still closed for game-fish until Friday at Midnight.


Whitebass fishing on the Rock River has been spotty, but the rain should really get things going. Walleyes are moving back to the main lake, and guys putting in the time to troll for them are doing pretty good. Catfish action has been slow but steady, and with some warmer weather should really pick up.

Stay tuned.
CT

More Musky Video

Kathy and Greg posted another clip from the Oconomowoc River Dam.

Check it out here.

Musky Mike's Grand Opening Event

....Is this Saturday, April 24th.

I'll be giving a brief talk on tackle selections for local lakes around 1:30pm.

Stop by and say hello.

Fishing Report 4/18/2010

Well its definitely transition time out there. The panfish are starting to stage and the bite has been variable along with the weather. Warmer, sunny days have been the best, but it's been windy, and most anglers have been fishing in protected areas, so the off shore and deeper structure bite has been largely untested.

Shallow bays, boat channels and pockets will all hold good panfish right now. Look for dark bottom areas along a north bank for the warmest water or sand and gravel areas adjacent to current. Some weeds or wood laydowns can  really concentrate the fish in either location.

On windy days, make long drifts through likely areas, on calmer days anchor away from the weeds or wood, and make long casts towards it. The fish can be spooky.

As for bait, bluegills will go for waxies, spikes or plastics tipped with live bait. Crappies have been great on plastics and on tail-hooked small fathead minnows.

Key Lakes right now: Stumpy and Icehouse Bays on Okauchee, Kessus, Nagawicka, Golden and Silver.


Stay tuned open water is just a few weeks away.
CT

A plug for my friends at Viking Outposts

If you've ever considered a Fly-In fishing trip in Canada, I recommend Viking Outposts. I don't get paid to say that by the way, it is just a honest recommendation from a great bunch of folks up in Red Lake, Ontario.


The ice is going out early this year, and they have some openings for early season trips.

THIS YEAR, OPENING WEEK WILL BE THE BEST !!

Consider a last minute trip to
Night Hawk Lake: May 14-21
Orono Lake: May 14- 21
Viking Island Lodge: May 21-29
Dolphin Lake: May 22- 29
Telescope Lake: May 28-June 4


Of the ones on this list, I've fished Nighthawk and Orono on previous trips. Orono was my favorite of the lakes we have visited with them, but is also the longest plane ride from Red Lake. Nighthawk was a great lake, and my Dad caught his biggest Pike ever on the trip we took there.
 
More Information can be had at their website (Viking Outpost) or from their blog (Viking's Blog).


Cheers

CT

Sturgeon Spawning Information

From the DNR. Looks like they think the bulk of the activity will occur in the next couple days. Maps, history and some video are here.

Cheers
CT

Fishing Report 4-12-10

Well gang, spring is upon us, and with it comes the usual run of changing weather patterns.

River fishing has slowed down dramatically. Walleyes are still biting, but most of the action has been contained to small feeding windows or anglers who are putting the time in at night. For the Rock River, this is textbook post-spawn behavior. Some anglers are reporting catching a few whitebass, but it looks like the cooler weather has held off the bulk of the spring run for now. Stay Tuned.

Local lakes are in the mid 40's to low 50's. Warmer water in shallow, dark bottom bays or boat channels along the northern shorelines is where the action is right now. Look for green weeds, wood or sand/gravel transition areas, especially on the warmer, sunny afternoons for crappies and bluegills. Areas which have these conditions adjacent to areas with good current are excellent.

For Bluegills, wax worms, spikes, leaf worms or plastics tipped with live bait are great options. For crappies, try tailhooking a small fathead under a bobber, plastics tipped with waxies or spikes, crappie tubes or small hair jigs. Fish will be anywhere from 18 inches of water to 20 feet deep depending on water clarity and weather conditions.

Stay tuned, its only going to get better.

CT

More Musky Video

Found this on Youtube.com. Taken a few days ago, from the bridge.




You might also check out the website for The Outdoor Scout, here.

CT

Spring Musky Video is up.

Kathy and Greg grabbed some video of the Muskies below the Oconomowoc River Dam. Check it out on the baitshop blog here.

Fishing Report 4-3-2010

Just an update on local conditions and fishing.


River runs are still in progress, but the walleyes are into the spawning phase. A few stragglers are still showing pre-spawn activity but by and large they are in the process of finishing the spawn. Expect to see some males hanging around for a bit, but its definitely time to start targeting white bass as they stage for their spawning runs. A little rain would really get things going, but the weather came up a little short today. Stay tuned.

Crappies and bluegills are actively biting on many area lakes, especially in the afternoon on the warmer sunny days. The high winds have been problematic, but if you're heading out, look for panfish in shallow, dark-bottom areas, especially if there are reeds or weeds left over from last season. Water temperatures are still low in the mainlake areas, but the shallow bays and boat channels are into the 50's in many protected areas. Go small when possible, waxworms and spikes on a very small hook or icefishing jig will catch as many fish as minnows most days. Mix it up, and be ready for anything.

We're less than a month away from the opener. Things will only get better.

Fishing Report 3-31-10

Fishing is picking up. Let's give you a quick rundown.


River fishing continues to be very productive. Walleyes are biting on the Fox River in Oshkosh and Depere, The Wolf River, the Wisconsin River and closer to home, on the Rock River.

Fish on the Rock River are moving in from the lake in large groups, and  you can expect good action and keeper fish. Advice: use larger/jumbo fatheads or tuffy minnows when targeting fish. Nightcrawlers can help you target some bonus catfish as well. Look for the fish in the areas adjacent to the main current flow, or in the deeper holes near turns in the river. The S turn has been especially productive for keeper fish. Keep in mind the walleyes are about to spawn, but that the white bass will follow them into the river.

Local lakes are free of ice, and panfishing is happening. Crappie are staging in the shallow dark bottom bays, especially those with a north facing shoreline. Small fatheads, waxworms on ice fishing jigs, or plastics tipped with live bait will catch crappies now, especially on the warmer afternoons. On still days, anchor and cast, on windy days used controlled drifting to increase the number of fish you're bringing in.

Good Luck,

CT

3-22-10 Fishing Report

The run is on in the Rock River. The water has crested the critical 42 degree temperature, and fish are moving in groups. The mouth has been the most consistent, but anglers in Jefferson and Fort are starting to see schools of fish.

Live bait, especially larger sized fatheads on a jig with stinger hook are catching the most fish. The typical rock-river patterns working especially well, orange or gold head with a chartruese body and/or live bait. Anchoring and fishing with three way-rigs or kytock setups works pretty well.

Look for slack water areas adjacent to the main current, that's where the lion's share of the fish are being caught.

It's only going to get better.

Stay tuned.

CT

New fishing report

Report for 3-13-10 at the Musky Mikes Page Here.

Open Water Opportunities

There's a ton of open water fishing just around the corner, but right now the Dells and Depere are both open and fish are being caught.

The Laker bite in the harbor is going strong as well.

This batch of rain is sure to get a few things started. If you're looking for some early season fishing, give me a call.

CT

VIKING ISLAND and OUTPOSTS: Real Outdoor Destinations films McInnes

The Canadian Fly In Outfitter I use and recommend, Viking Outpost, has posted some video at their blog.

Check it out:

VIKING ISLAND and OUTPOSTS: Real Outdoor Destinations films McInnes

2010 DNR Fishing Report

The DNR has released the 2010 report. I'd point your attention to the Waukesha County Lakes Section and the short article about the fish cribs added to Silver Lake.

Get the report here

CT.

Early Spring Trips

The first open water opportunities are here.

Walleye fishing is getting started in the Dells, with open water off of the River's Edge Resort. Check out their live river cams here.

Ben Kueng is running open water harbor trips for Lake Trout. Ben's Website.

Stay Tuned.
CT

Local Musky Tournament Dates for 2010

Wisconsin Musky Tour Qualifiers:

Pewaukee Lake, Pewaukee May 15
Lake Okauchee, Okauchee May 16

Ironman Musky Tournament Trail

October 30, Pewaukee Lake
October 31, Okauchee Lake


Elite Musky Series

June 12-13, Pewaukee Lake 

Invasive Species

A New Poll out from UW-Madison. Here

Little Lunkers Ice Fishing Day Classes for the Kids

Ever wanted to show the kids what Ice Fishing was all about? Becky over at Dick Smith's just told me about the little lunkers day over on Nagawicka.
 
Information page from Dick Smith's Live Bait is Here

1-6-10 Fishing Report

Just some quick information.

Ice conditions continue to vary, sometimes within a few feet of each other. Shallow bays are solid with a minimum between 4-8 inches in most areas. Deeper water has ice, but it can be as thin as 2 inches or as thick as 12. As always, be careful when heading out.

Panfish have been the most consistent. Some nicer panfish are being taken near deeper structure or close to the bottom in deeper areas adjacent to shallow water. You'll need a camera or electronics to effectively locate and target these fish.

Shallow water panfish continue to bite. Look for them in protected bays near any green weeds you can find.

Pike fishing has been slow and steady. Larger shiners on a rigged leader have been producing. Fishing the bays that are shallow and weedy in the summer has been a good starting point, but don't be afraid to spread your gear out a little to cover several depths. Mid depth areas with any weeds have been producing the better fish.

Walleye fishing is starting to pick up, especially just after dawn. There's a window of opportunity early in the morning in sand/rock transition areas where the larger walleyes are targeting juvenile perch. You probably won't catch many, but some larger fish have been reported.

Good Luck,

CT

Musky Mikes

Musky Mikes is Open Again
Just a quick post today, update will follow. I just wanted everyone to know that the shop is now open in its new location.

(Just down the street, to the east, on the south side of the road.)

CT

Fishing Report

Disclaimer: Take everything I say at your own risk. Use a spud bar,a pfd and a buddy when heading out on the ice. Take it from me, going through is no picnic.

------

Okay, that out of the way, let's get down to business. The cold snap at the end of last week and over the weekend has really gotten things going in terms of freeze up. Shallow protected bays are frozen on the bigger lakes, and smaller lakes with shallow water have closed up entirely. Expect between 2-6 inches of ice on the frozen areas, but mainlake and deepwater areas remain open on many lakes. I'll have a full round of ice conditions lake by lake in the weekend update.

Panfish are starting to bite, especially in the mid afternoon. Waxies, spikes and mousies on a tear drop or ratfinkee seems to be the key. The fish are running on the smaller side still, but I think people don't have them dialed in just yet.

Pike are starting to bite, but again, the limited number of people out has kept information a little on the sketchy side for now. I'll have more for you this weekend.

Stay Tuned,
CT

Early ice-Fishing Report

Greetings,

The weather has certainly taken a turn towards winter the last couple days. Very low temperatures mean ice is starting to form.

I would advise caution if you're planning on heading out in the local area though. The ice is still pretty sketchy by all reports. A few days and nights of this cold weather should get things started however.

For now, consider looking for panfish in protected areas with still green weeds. Crappies and bluegills will bite on a variety of small live bait or plastics around shallow weed clumps. The fish will not have set up their feeding schedule as of yet, but you can expect to catch fish in little spurts. If you have three holes going, chances are one hole will outproduce the rest. Spread out your gear until you connect, then fish hard through the most active holes.

Early ice walleye action can be great, but I'd give things another couple of days before heading out to exposed areas or flats adjacent to open water.

Stay Tuned.
CT

Extra month this year/Fishing Report

Musky season is usually wrapping up in our local area as the season typically closed the last weekend in November. This year however, the season is open until December 31st in the southern zone.

Lots of fish are being caught on the local lakes, with suckers obviously being the best option. Look for the fish to be anywhere, but don't be shy about looking for them in relatively shallow water, especially on a warmer sunny afternoon. As the season progresses to this point, I like to focus my attention on rocky transition areas. I don't have the science behind it or anything, but I can usually find some active fish near to mid-depth rocks, especially in the afternoons.

If you're heading into the shallow water, you might also want to keep your eyes open for some panfish that are making an early transition move towards winter water. Crappies and bluegills will start to stage in shallow protected bays with cover this time of year.

And if you're in the mood for some walleyes, the Rock and Wisconsin rivers are in the midst of the late fall run.

CT

CARP!

From JSOnline.COM:

32 DNA samples for Asian carp found past barrier

By Dan Egan of the Journal Sentinel


The Army Corps of Engineers acknowledged Friday that tests taken earlier this fall revealed 32 positive DNA samples for Asian carp above the electric fish barrier on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, some within 10 miles of the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

The Journal Sentinel first reported the apparent barrier breach Thursday, though the Army Corps refused to acknowledge it until Friday morning.

There is now apparently nothing left standing between the supersized, ecosystem-ravaging fish and the world's largest freshwater system other than the gates of two heavily used navigational locks, and it may be only a matter of time until the fish are jumping and flopping in Lake Michigan waters from Chicago to Door County - and beyond.

"It's a disaster," said Dan Thomas, president of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council. "Heads should roll for this."

The Great Lakes commercial and sport fishing industry are valued at over $7 billion annually, and the region has more than 4 million registered recreational boats, many owners of which may have to learn to live on a different and dangerous set of lakes; hockey helmets are considered standard safety gear for some boaters on infested waters of the Mississippi River basin.

No actual fish have been found above the electric barrier, which itself is about 20 miles south of Lake Michigan. But biologists say the water samples provide some compelling - and distressing - evidence that the fish imported decades ago by an Arkansas fish farmer and subsequently let loose during federally funded sewage treatment experiments finally busted past the electric barrier. It is a barrier that has never been turned up to its full capacity due to concerns it would disrupt barge operators and recreational boaters on the Chicago canal.

"We're assuming (the fish) are there because we have to," said John Rogner, assistant director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "It's the best data we have."

The biologists responsible for detecting the fish with cutting edge "environmental" DNA testing agreed. "There is no reason to think that there aren't carp present when the DNA is detected," said David Lodge, a University of Notre Dame biologist.

Lodge said no DNA tests have been conducted on Lake Michigan itself, but he said there is still reason to be optimistic.

"As a biologist and somebody who has spent decades now studying many different kinds of invasive species, we should not assume all is lost because there may be some silver and bighead (carp) above the barrier," he said. "There are lots of cases, well documented from many parts of the world, where a small number of organisms may invade new areas, but they may die out before they establish a sustainable reproducing population. So it's very important to keep the numbers of individual organisms as low as possible."

The Army Corps agrees, and said Friday it will steam ahead with plans to poison the Chicago canal just below the barrier to kill all the fish in a several mile downriver stretch in early December so the barrier can be shut down for a day or two for regular maintenance in early December. "This new information reinforces the importance of preventing any further intrusion of the Asian carp via the largest pathway, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal," said Army Corps Maj. General John w. Peabody.

Army Corps officials said Friday they also would continue DNA testing above the barrier and will consider poisoning options in the areas where DNA is detected.

They also said they would consider changing the way they operate two busy navigational locks near the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

"All options are on the table," said Rogner.

Officials said research is already under way to try to manage carp populations in the Great Lakes, similar to the Great Lakes lamprey sterilization program that keeps numbers of that invasive parasite in check.

"We anticipate that some day this kind of operation may have to occur with carp," said Charlie Wooley, deputy regional director for Fish and Wildlife.

Army Corps officials declined to speculate how the fish might have made it passed the barrier.

One possible reason is that it wasn't operating at a higher strength until August, when the newly developed DNA tests first detected the fish within several miles of the barrier. Previous fish-shocking surveys had showed the carp stalled for more than a year about 20 miles below the barrier.

The Journal Sentinel reported late last year that the new barrier, designed to operate at four volts per inch, was only going to be allowed at one-volt per inch, not a power high enough to deter small juvenile fish.

The Journal Sentinel reported on Aug. 7 that the DNA tests revealed the fish were on the move. The Army Corps turned up the power on the barrier to two volts later that month after conducting a round of safety tests. They said at the time tests showed two volts, with the proper pulse frequency, is strong enough to repel all sizes of fish.

Conservationists Thursday said the only thing left to do know is to close the navigation locks to determine with certainty if the fish have indeed breached the gates. And if they have, it's time to try to kill those fish. "The important thing now is to make sure no fish get into Lake Michigan, and since we've got those structures in place that will help us do that, that is where we've got to focus," said Joel Brammeier of the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

North Lake Access

From Jsonline.com:

North Lake public access project starts next summer
By Don Behm of the Journal Sentinel

Nov. 6, 2009 4:23 p.m. | Construction of the first public access to North Lake in Waukesha County is scheduled for summer 2010, a state Department of Natural Resources official said Friday.

The 437-acre lake is the largest water body in the county without public access, said Jim Ritchie, DNR public waterways access coordinator.

The DNR purchased the former Whitey Krause property on Reddelien Road in the Town of Merton for $1.125 million in 2005. The 6.5-acre parcel includes 233 feet of frontage on the northwest shore of the lake, Ritchie said.

Construction of the access site, with boat ramp, dock and parking lot for 16 vehicles and trailers will cost $475,000.

"Development of this property will ensure that anglers and recreational boaters have permanent year-round public access for open water and ice fishing on North Lake," Ritchie said. "There's been a strong demand for access to this lake for many years."

Great weekend ahead.

There's a great weather outlook for the next couple days, and you should consider hitting the water. The warmer temps will bring a variety of fish into the shallow areas, especially those with rock or sand bottoms, in the early afternoon.

Live bait is always a good option this time of year, especially suckers and shiners, but don't over look crankbaits. A thinner profile bait that wiggles instead of wobbles, always seems to catch some decent fish when the conditions are like this this late in the year.

Look for rocky areas adjacent to deep water. The fish will be laying on the rocks, on patrolling the bottom transition just next to them.

Good Luck
CT

Musky Mikes has been sold.

Musky Mike's Baitshop in Okauchee has been sold to new ownership. The store will remain open in its current location through November 30th. Live bait will continue to be available at the current location through November 30th, and all tackle is on sale for 40% off.

The store will continue to operate under the new owners, but will be moving to a nearby location during the week of December 1st.

It has been our pleasure to serve you, and we look forward to seeing the store continue under the new owners.

Thanks
Chris, Eric and Ray

Still time to get out....

The weather outside is just right for musky fishing on the inland lakes, and the walleye run will be biting on the Rock River.

Still plenty of time to get out in the boat. Give me a call if you'd like a last chance to hit the water this season.

CT

Now contributing to walleye central.

Hey gang,

Walleyecentral.com has asked me to provide reports for Lac Labelle. I'll be contributing to them on a regular basis.

Stay tuned for more information.
CT

Fishing Report: October 4, 2009

Well its fall, and I have some good news.

Water temps are peaking out below 60 degrees in the afternoons. Okauchee, Oconomowoc and Lac Labelle all clocked in the high 50's late today, which means now is the time to hit the water for some musky fishing. The bite has been a bit slow, but certainly steady. Two large fish were caught on Okauchee in the last week, and we've had numerous reports of high 30's and low 40's fish coming to the boat.

Some advice: The lack of rain this season allowed the weeds to grow deeper than is typical for our area. Likewise, a fair number of fish are being caught in deeper water than is typical for this time of year. Trolling has been producing, especially in areas with baitfish in 18-25 feet of water. Good use of your electronics is essential right now.

Look for the bite to move shallower and into the available green weeds, but don't over look rock bars adjacent to mid depth weeds, especially on warmer sunny afternoons, as fish will move up to warm up and digest food.

Fishing with suckers is never a bad idea this time of year. We have suckers and custom quick strike rigs in stock right now.

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Other happenings:

Smallmouth fishing will pick up on the area lakes, and now is the time to chase down a trophy sized fish with live bait. Slip-sinker rigs with walleye suckers or large shiners drifted or trolled very slowly around the deep edges of structure can surprise you. If you find fish, you'll very likely be over a good school of them. fish that area hard, and pay attention to your electronics. Subtle bottom changes will concentrate fish.

Walleye fishing has been slow, but is starting to pick up in the Dells and along the Jefferson Dam to Blackhawk Island stretch of the Rock River. Water is seasonably low this time of year, so watch your prop, but look for fish in the current, in the shallow water near deeper holes. They will likely be actively feeding, rather than holding in the deep water. Jig and Minnow, Lindy rigs or jig and twister are good producers.

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Fishing Report 9-22-09

The water is in the mid to upper 60's on most lakes in our area. Weeds are still green, but showing some signs of thinning out and the algae blooms are starting to clear up. There are schools of bait in both deep and shallow water, both of which are drawing attention from the gamefish right now.

Largemouth are holding along clumps of weeds on the shallow weed flats. Others are still hanging along the deeper weed edges. Smallmouth are relating to weed clumps near or adjacent to rocky and sandy areas with a drop off. The deeper fish will bite best when they make a move into the nearby shallow water, typically something they will start to do a couple times a day. When the water and air temperatures begin to cool down some more, fish will use rocky areas in the early afternoons.

Your best lure options right now are wacky worms, large jigworms, skirted grubs, jig/chunk, texas rigged plastics or lipless crankbaits. Smaller, wide wobbling crankbaits can also produce. Wacky worms and skirted grubs are great around the rocks. Jigworms, texas rigs and jig/trailers are great around the scattered weeds. Lipless crankbaits are great in both areas. Browns, greens, orange or black are usally the best colors for plastics (pretty much as they are all year) but white, shad, bluegill or silver colored crankbaits can really produce.

Walleye: Stick with live bait unless fishing over submerged weeds in the evening when you should consider throwing minnow-baits like rapalas and rouges. Look for walleyes to be in the sandgrass or in breaks in the weeds in 10-15 feet. Some fish will be deeper or shallower on our local lakes, but the best approach to locating fish is to slowly troll with a slip-sinker or lindy rig with a big minnow.

Northern: Most northern caught this time of year are caught while targeting other species, especially bass and musky. But they can still be caught and in good numbers. For bigger fish, try Deep diving crankbaits in bluegill, perch or white/shad color patterns. Hot N Tots, wiggle warts and the rapala deep divers are my favorites for trolling, while Norman D-22's or lipless crankbaits are better options for casting.

Musky: The fish are starting to make fall transitions, but the action is still a little slow. I'd expect that to make a rapid change after this week. Most fish are being reported from 10-15 feet of water. Casting bucktails, gliders, swimbaits or jerkbaits all will draw some attention, but don't forget to keep a sucker or two out on a quick-strike rig. Many fish that follow a bait to the boat will turn on for the sucker hanging nearby.

Good Luck
CT

Musky Trips

The fall season for musky fishing is right around the corner.

CT

Fall Runs

From the DNR:

50 places to fish from shore within 60 minutes of Milwaukee

MADISON – Like clockwork, it’s that time of year when trout and salmon begin staging in the river mouths and harbors – ready to run the course back to their spawning grounds.

And anglers looking to fish these spectacular runs can visit the new Lake Michigan Fall Fishing page of the Department of Natural Resources Web site for informational resources that highlight 50 places to fish from shore within 60 minutes of downtown Milwaukee.

“No need to put the fishing gear away just because summer is nearing its end,” says Brad Eggold, Department of Natural Resources Southern Lake Michigan fisheries team supervisor. “The spawning runs represent tremendous opportunities -- they’re close by, you don’t need a boat, and you have a high chance of success.”

“We developed these materials because we wanted to make it as easy as possible for anglers to find places to fish during these events.”

The resources include:

* A downloadable pocket-size brochure that lists the 50 locations and the dominant species available, and, and gives directions, distance and driving time from downtown Milwaukee. Printed copies will be available in the coming weeks at DNR service centers in southeastern Wisconsin.
* Google map showing photos of the fishing sites and detailed driving directions
* Advice on the fishing gear to use and the best times to go.

More about what anglers need to fish the spawning runs

Timing is everything, and although heavy rains can sometimes trigger earlier runs, this schedule gives anglers a good idea of when the runs can begin, peak and end:

* Chinook salmon – Sept. 1 to Oct. 15, peak in late September
* Coho salmon – Oct. 1 to Nov. 15 peak in late October
* Steelhead – Aug. 1 to Nov. 30 peak in late September, very dependent on water flows, especially in August
* Brown trout – Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, peak in early December

If you’re new to fishing the runs, get properly equipped by reeling in this gear before you go:

* Rod: 8- to 11-feet long, medium to heavy action.
* Reel: medium-sized spinning reel with good drag system.
* Line: 8- to 10-pound monofilament.
* Lure and tackle: Heavy duty ball bearing snap swivels for use with spoons like krocodiles, cleos, castmasters and daredevils will work great off piers and breakwalls.
* For bait fishing: Small hooks in sizes 4 to 6 with slip bobbers, split shot, three-way swivels and bell sinkers for use with spawn, minnows and wax worms.
* Miscellaneous gear: Long-handled landing net for fish up to 20 pounds, heavy duty stringer, needle nose pliers, extra spools of line, garbage bags, and warm clothes (weather conditions can change quickly on Lake Michigan).

Anglers 16 years old or older fishing Lake Michigan and its tributaries need a fishing license and Great Lakes Trout and Salmon stamp, or a two-day Sports Fishing License to fish for trout and salmon in the tributaries (up to the first dam or lake).

Check the “2009-2010 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations” for fishing regulations. Anglers should note that from Sept. 15 to the first Saturday of the following May, there is no hook and line fishing from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise in the tributaries.\

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Salmon Fishing isn't really my thing, but I wanted to make you aware of the options.

Cheers
CT

Changes Ahead

Hey Gang, there are changes in the works and I wanted you to have some lead time on them.

First, and most importantly, the weekly fishing reports which have been posted on the baitshop blog will be moving to this site this fall. I'll probably start double posting them here as well. I'll keep posting the reports, but as of October 1st or so, you'll need to come here to get them.

Second, I'm in the process of putting together some content for another fishing related blog run by fishing pro Doug Cavin. We're still working out the kinks (well I am anyway) and there will be more news on this in September.

Finally, fall fishing is just around the corner. Judging by the weather, I assume that that might be a short corner. If you are looking to hit the water for some action this fall, I will have availabilities, but as I'll be working on my dissertation, I suggest that you contact me sooner to make sure you can have the days you want.

CT

Shannon's First Fish.

Here's my son Shannon with the first fish he caught all by himself. Over the years I have helped many people catch lots of fish. I have guided people to trophy bass, musky and walleyes. I helped my dad to catch the biggest northern pike of his life. Personally I've caught a bass over 10lbs, a 48 inch musky and a 30 inch walleye, but watching him hook and reel in this potato chip sized bluegill was among the proudest moments of my life.

CT

Two baits for right now

Two Baits for Right Now.

As summer winds up, I usually find myself relying on two baits to produce fish. Our lakes have a plentiful baitfish supply by this point of the year, and I see no reason not to play along. With the crawfish molt over, gamefish will once again turn their attention towards baitfish. As the photocycle gets shorter, this change in attention gets more pronounced.

Therefore I recommend two lures that you should always have at the ready this time of year. Both are easy to use and will catch a variety of fish. The first is a lipless crankbait. There are tons of these baits on the market, and most crankbait manufacturers have a model available. Personally I like to stay traditional, and like the Bill Lewis (Rattle-trap) or the Rapala version (rattlin-rapala).

A lipless crankbait is an easy bait to fish. Cast it out and reel it back in. Its tight wiggle and small size easily imitate the baitfish that most predators are chasing. As for color, I like to keep it simple. On cloudy days I’ll throw a bluegill or shad colored bait, but if its sunny, I like to go for lots of flash and will rely on a chrome or gold. Casting lipless crankbaits along the outside edges of weed-beds is an amazing way to catch a variety of fish. I’ve caught bass, walleye, northern pike, muskie and even channel catfish with nothing more than a cast and retrieve approach. One tip, when reeling in the bait, try to keep your pole at a 90 degree angle to the bait, it’ll be easier to detect strikes and follow through with a hook set. Tip #2: if you’re reeling the bait, and you feel it stop, set the hook. If it’s a fish, you’ll have them, if it’s a weed, changes are you’ll get a bite when you rip the bait free.

The other bait I recommend is a spinnerbait. Again I like to keep it simple, and tend to stay with white or white and chartreuse. Although they are very effective, I prefer not to use willow leaf blades, preferring instead to go with a Colorado or Oklahoma blade. On cloudy days I’ll use a bait with a painted or silver blade, but on sunny days I go gold. I don’t use a trailer hook very often, but I usually use a twister tail grub to add some bulk to the bait.

The approach is simple, throw it out and reel it back in. Look for clumps of weeds, and make multiple casts along the edges or over the top of submerged weeds and hang on. Pike strikes of spinner baits can be vicious. Bass and Muskie will also chase them down.

Keep it simple. Cast these baits out near weed edges, and reel them back in. I’m not promising that you’ll catch a giant, but you’ll certainly have a chance to catch some quality fish.

Golden Lake

Bob had so much fun on Monday, he wanted to go back out today. We wanted to chase some bass on Golden Lake, but the weather wouldn't cooperate. The pike however were a different story.

We caught and released more than 20 pike between 15-32 inches today. Here's Bob with one we caught before the rain made us put the camera away.

CT

Silver Lake

Here's Bob with today's nice bass from Silver Lake, one of 25 Largemouths we caught on today's guided trip:




Weekday and Weekend Trips are available. Call 262-893-2183.

On the water in August....

Trips are available for bass, walleye, panfish, catfish and musky. Give me a call 262-893-2183.

Announcement

I will be contributing to another fishing blog starting August 1st. Details will follow. In the meantime, stay tuned to the shop's blog for fishing reports.

Fishing Time Ahead

I've been busy with exams this summer, but I'll be on the water heavily during August, September and October this fall.

In the meantime, stay up to date with fishing reports on the baitshop blog.

Let's go fishing

The water is finally up to seasonal temperatures, and we have some great fishing weather ahead. Let's go catch some fish.

Maybe its not catch and release but that they're getting smarter.......

Nine-spined stickleback share the human ability to copy each other's behaviour if it's to their advantage.

They're small in size but big in mind: sticklebacks display a remarkably human-like intelligence when it comes to searching for food, according to scientists in the UK. By comparing their own experiences with the behaviour of their fellow fish, the sticklebacks are able to improve their success rate.

The discovery of this sophisticated type of social learning in sticklebacks, known as a "hill-climbing" strategy, suggests that such cognitive tricks might be more common among non-human animals than previously thought.

The study also shows that big brains like humans' might not be the only way to produce a cumulative culture within a species.

"Small fish may have small brains but they still have some surprising cognitive abilities," said Jeremy Kendal from Durham University's anthropology department. "Hill-climbing strategies are widely seen in human society whereby advances in technology are down to people choosing the best technique through social learning and improving on it, resulting in cumulative culture. But our results suggest brain size isn't everything when it comes to the capacity for social learning."

Kevin Laland of St Andrews University, who also took part in the study, said: "Nine-spined sticklebacks may be the geniuses of the fish world. It's remarkable that a form of learning found to be optimal in humans is exactly what these fish do."

In the experiment, reported in tomorrow's issue of the journal Behavioral Ecology, scientists caught 270 nine-spined sticklebacks from the Melton Brook in Leicestershire. The fish were placed in a tank with two feeders, one of which supplied a lot more food than the other, known as the "rich feeder".

The fish that learned to prefer the rich feeder were then allowed to watch their fellow fish feeding in a separate test but, this time, the two feeders had been swapped. After watching for a while, the observers were allowed to choose a feeder for themselves and around 75% were able to work out from their observations that the feeders had been switched.

Lots of animals learn from their more experienced peers to gain skills such as hunting, foraging or evading predators.

"But it is not always a recipe for success to simply copy someone," said Kendal. "Animals are often better off being selective about when and who they copy. These fish are obviously not at all closely related to humans, yet they have this human ability to only copy when the pay-off is better than their own. You might expect this ability in animals who are closely related to humans. In the case of the nine-spined stickleback, they have most likely adapted to their local ecology."

Sounds Like a Good Problem

Largemouth bass overpopulating many lakes

By Associated Press, Posted: Jun. 13, 2009

Spooner - Wisconsin wildlife officials say bass catch-and-release might be working too well.

The Department of Natural Resources says a mail survey of bass anglers found they kept only 550,000, or 6%, of the 10 million bass they caught in 2006. In contrast, state anglers kept about 2.2 million of 7 million walleye caught, or about 30%.

DNR fisheries biologist Larry Damman in Spooner says high minimum size limits coupled with catch-and-release has resulted in many lakes with overabundant, stunted bass populations in which few largemouths ever reach legal size.

Fisheries managers want anglers to harvest more bass in northern Wisconsin, especially in Polk and Washburn counties, to keep population numbers in balance and improve growth rates.

Hot Bites Right Now

I like to pass on good info when I have it, and I have a couple pieces of it right now.

1.) Trolling bite: Koshkonong. Pulling cranks and stickbaits is producing a mixed bag of walleyes, whitebass and pike.

2.) Fowler Lake: The stocked trout are biting very good. They are suspended in the deep basin, but you can find them with your electronics.

3.)Lake Kessus: Crappies are biting, big time. I don't think this will hold up as this news came to me late, but you might want to give it a go.

Spotted Musky Improvement Plan

From the DNR

MADISON – The 1,100 fingerlings that made the road trip from Ontario, Canada, to their new homes in three northeastern Wisconsin lakes are among new efforts this spring in the decades-long quest to restore a self-sustaining population of the Great Lakes strain spotted musky to Green Bay.

These young fish will eventually serve as broodstock for Green Bay.

Taken as eggs from Georgian Bay and later certified disease free, they were raised in the small, Sir Sanford Fleming College hatchery in Ontario, Canada and stocked into Elkhart Lake, Sheboygan County, and Anderson and Archibald lakes in Oconto County.

The $59,000 project, funded by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, money from the Fox River environmental restoration settlement, Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin, Muskies Canada and Titletown Chapter of Muskies Inc., is aimed at increasing the genetic diversity in Green Bay’s spotted musky population, which in turn will yield healthier fish, according to fisheries biologist David Rowe.

“Greater genetic diversity helps to protect a population from changes in their environment,” Rowe says. “If all the fish have the same genotype, they are all likely to succumb to the same illness or an environmental change like a warmer climate. If there is a great amount of diversity, the changes that impact some fish will not affect all fish in the population. This means the population can better adapt to changing conditions, and then they pass those stronger traits on to their offspring.”

The three receiving the Canadian fish have a 50-inch size limit to protect them, giving DNR multiple years to collect eggs before the musky would be vulnerable to harvest, according to Rowe.

A $200,000 grant from the Natural Resources Damage Assessment that resulted from the Fox River environmental settlement will allow the DNR to stock the Ontario-raised strain of musky into the recently established brood lakes for the next four years, which will continue to increase the genetic variation and abundance of the re-established Green Bay population.

Spotted musky are native to Green Bay, but the population collapsed in the early 1900s due to over-fishing, pollution and habitat destruction. Thanks to stocking efforts that began in 1989, the population in the bay is older and larger than ever, according to Rowe.

“The musky have grown fast in Green Bay’s waters,” Rowe says. “We estimate the population in the lower bay somewhere between 5,000 to 10,000 musky and just this spring we handled about a dozen fish larger than 50 inches in our nets.”

Even though the musky population has been revived and anglers are finding opportunities for trophy fish, biologists, who have been looking for signs of natural reproduction for 20 years, are just now starting to see hopeful results.

“Last fall, for the first time, we collected two, unmarked fingerling musky in the lower Menomonie River,” Rowe says. “We know from genetic analysis that these two had the same genetic markers as the adult fish from Green Bay, meaning they are Great Lakes Spotted muskies, and the first evidence of natural reproduction.”

To help determine why the DNR hasn’t seen more spotted musky reproduction, fisheries crews have begun a two-year study funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act Program and several musky angling clubs including; Dave’s Musky Club, C&R Musky Club, Winnebagoland Musky Club, M&M Musky Club, Titletown Chapter of Muskies Inc., and the Between the Lakes Chapter of Muskies Inc.

This spring 20 female musky were inserted with miniature radio transmitters when they were captured during DNR fyke-netting. When those females spawn and expel their eggs, the transmitter will also drop, pinpointing their spawning location. This information will allow biologists to identify the area and see if there are any problems that might be hindering natural reproduction such as habitat degradation, poor water quality, or invasive species.