2014 DNR Fishing Preview-Waukesha County

The full report DNR Preview is here.

 

Waukesha County Highlights

 

Walleye: 

Lac LaBelle -

1154 acres. Average length –16 inches. Population estimate – 3 adults per acre. Current regulation: 20 inch mini mum length, daily bag limit of 1. 

 

Access information: Shore fishing opportunities near the Oconomowoc River inlet can provide fast action. The public boat launch is located on south end of Lac LaBelle near the public beach area on Wisconsin Avenue. A

healthy adult walleye population continues to support natural reproduction of walleye inLac LaBelle, as revealed by continued fall electrofishing surveys. Walleyes on Lac La Belle provide excellent angler catch and release opportunity, but creel sized fish greater than the 20 inch minimum length limit are hard to come by.

 

Oconomowoc Lake -

818 acres. Average length – 15 inches. Population estimate – 2 adults per acre. Current regulation: 18 inch

minimum length, daily bag limit of 3. Access information: The public boat launch is located on the Oconomowoc River upstream of Oconomowoc Lake near the Okauchee Lake dam on Wisconsin Ave. Oconomowoc Lake has an excellent size structure for walleye, smallmouth bass and muskellunge. Oconomowoc Lake has a moderate level of

walleye natural reproduction indicated by fall electrofishing surveys. 

 

Musky:

Pewaukee Lake -

2437 acres. Average length – 34 inches. 2012 population estimate – 0.35 adults per acre. Current regu

lation: 40 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 1. Access information: There are two boat launches found on Pewaukee Lake;the county park launch on the west side and Smokey’s bait shop on the east side. Pewaukee Lake is home to the largest musky density in southeastern Wisconsin. Not only do the muskies in Pewaukee boast an average size of 34 inches, anglers annually catch a few fish over 50 inches. Abundant yellow

perch, black crappie and bluegills make up an excellent forage base for this thriving musky population. The DNR propagation program provides an excellent muskellunge  product that is stocked annually.

 

Okauchee Lake

- 1210 acres. Spring netting in 2013 revealed an average length of

40 inches. Current regulation: 40 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 1. 

 

Access information: There are two public launches on Okauchee Lake found at the Golden

Mast Restaurant and the DNR launch. The DNR boat launch is located just east of the Okauchee Lake dam on Road T, north of Wisconsin Avenue. The Golden Mast boat launch is located off of Lacys Lane north of East Wisconsin Avenue. Okauchee Lake has a maximum depth of 94 feet and has an excellent cisco population which provides an additional forage base resulting in above average growth rates. Okauchee Lake is a

great option for catching a trophy muskellunge.

 

Smallmouth

Oconomowoc Lake

- 818 acres. Average length – 15 inches. Current regulation: 14” minimum length, daily bag limit of 5. 

 

Rocky substrate, deep drop offs and woody structure provides excellent habitat for smallmouth bass on Oconomowoc Lake. Recent fall electrofishing surveys continually show excellent size structure and abundance of smallmouth bass with good trophy potential

Lac LaBelle -

1154 acres. Average length –

12 inches. Current regulation: 14 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 5. Access information: Shore fishing opportunities near the Oconomowoc River inlet can provide fast action. The public boat launch is located on south end of lake near down town area on Wisconsin Avenue. Trophy smallmouth,large flathead catfish, abundant walleye and giant muskellunge lurk in this unique fishery. The forage base consists of white suckers, golden red horse and yellow bass. 

 

 

Northern Pike

Big Muskego Lake -

2200 acres. Average length – 26 inches. Current regulation: 40 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 1.

Access information: There are three public launches located on the lakes’ east, south and southeast sides found on Boxhorn and Durham Drive. This shallow system has heavy aquatic plants and big northern pike.

The highly conservative minimum lengthlimit provides exciting catch and release action for bass and pike.

 

Lower Phantom Lake -

373 acres. Average length – 25 inches. Current regulation: 26 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 2.

Access information: The public boat launch is located at the west end of Andrews Street,west of Main Street in the city of Mukwonago. There is a park and a public fishing pier located next to the boat launch. Lower Phantom Lake has excellent northern pike habitat with abundant aquatic plants. Recent stocking efforts have increased the northern pike abundance and reports of pike in the mid 30-inch range have been reported by anglers.

 

Crappie

Okauchee Lake -

1157 acres. Average length– 9 inches. Current regulation: No minimum length, daily bag limit of 25. Access

information: 

 

Look for crappies in one of many shallow bays when the water temperatures rise to the low to mid 50

degrees. Spring netting in 2013 revealed excellent black crappie size structure and abundance.

 

Pine Lake -

711 surface acres. Average length – 7 inches. Current regulation: No minimum length limit, daily bag limit of 25.

Access information: The public launch is located on the lakes’ north side off of highway K also known as Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive. Spring netting in 2013 revealed bluegills were found in good abundance and

had an average size of 7 inches.

 

Golden Lake -

252 acres. Average length– 6.5 inches. Current regulation: no minimum length limit, daily bag limit of 25.

Access information: The public launch is located on the lakes’ south side off of High way 18. Golden Lake has a nice diversity of aquatic plants and a primarily sandy bottom. Panfish have a good size structure in Golden

Lake.

 

 

Trout

Rosenow Creek -

A 1/2 mile reach Average length – 7 inches. A recent stream shocking survey revealed brook trout up to 11 inches.

Current regulation: 9 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 3. Access information: Access can be found at the Oconomowoc high school property off of North Lapham Street. This small coldwater stream has consistent

natural reproduction of brook trout providing good action.

 

Paradise Springs -

A 1/2 mile reach Aver age length – 7 inches. Current regulation: 9 inch minimum length, daily bag limit of 3

downstream of Hwy N. Catch and release, artificial lures only Upstream of Hwy N. Access information: Access can be found on Hwy N north of Hwy 59 west of Eagle. Natural reproduction and supplementalstocking provide good action on both sides of Hwy N. Downstream, anglers can find brook trout hiding under a number of bank

structures. Upstream of Hwy N features ADA access to a fishing pier located on the stocked pond.

 

A handy new tool from the DNR

Interactive map shows locations of all Wisconsin fish species found in state

MADISON - Anglers and fish enthusiasts alike can now see where their favorite fish species have been found using an interactive Department of Natural Resources research tool that shows results from fish surveys dating as far back as 130 years.

Check it out...here.

New Bag Limits for Ceded Territory (2014-2015 Season)

The DNR has released the revised bag limits for northern lakes in the ceded territory.

If you're heading up north for the opener next weekend, you will definitely want to check these as some of the changes are fairly substantial.

Paul Smith's JSonline Article is here

Complete List of Ceded Territory Limits from the DNR is here

Best,
CT

Fishing Report 4-15-14

Tax day. Snowy weather...time to blow off some steam in the boat.

Local lakes still have various levels of ice, but are (or at least were) opening up.Very early yet, but you may be able to access some areas to chase panfish. Look for them to be active in the early afternoons, especially on warmer sunny days.

North banks of small cuts with shallow and dark bottoms will concentrate fish early on. Dark bottom areas adjacent to current will also hold fish. Long winter was tough on weeds, so look for fish around wood, docks or reeds.

River fishing has been a mixed bag. Whitebass are starting to run in the Rock River between Blackhawk and the Jefferson Dam. Feeder creeks with flowing water and current breaks close to shore are your best bet. Some walleyes are still being caught, but as is typical the bite peeked and then quickly dropped off. Catfish have been very active, especially on deeper flat areas out of the main channel.

Various fishing reports have the Dells still humming, but I didn't hear of anything personally the last week.

Depere is happening. Lots of fish being caught in Depere. Bigger fish are coming at night. Conditions have been tough by the reports I have gotten, but the action is steady.

More as I get it.

Good Luck, Be Safe.

Cheers,
CT

Update 4-08-14

Things are starting to happen in the rivers. Starting to see and hear some reports of larger fish moving in.

Depere should peak in the next 7 days. Larger fish are being caught now, especially at night.

In the Dells, lots of slot and over slot sized fish are being reported.

On the Rock River, Blackhawk Island has been hot, but upriver between the Bark and the Jefferson dam is starting to see some more action. Limited news on whitebass, but the walleyes and saugers are moving up in groups.

Stay tuned,
CT

Fishing report 4-5-14

Damn, it is nice to be back to doing these.

The premise...it is still very early, but open water things are starting to happen.

• Fish are moving in at Depere. The action is still early, but is fairly consistent by all reports.
• The Walleye are biting very well in the Dells. Some larger fish are starting to come in as well.
• The Jefferson-Blackhawk strecth of the Rock River has fish moving in. The action has been day to day but the fish are already moving towards the dam. 

Full moon is coming, as is some warmer weather...time to get that boat on the river.

Talk to you soon.

CT

Kids Fishing Clinics

CONTACT:   Matt Coffaro, DNR statewide urban fisheries biologist, 414- 263-8614

SUBJECT:    Young anglers can receive free instruction at 30th Annual Kids’ Fishing Clinics

                        

MILWAUKEE – Kids 15 years and younger can mark the arrival of spring by attending free fishing clinics on Saturday, April 12, at several lagoons and ponds in Milwaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington and Waukesha counties. Clinics will be held every hour beginning at 9 a.m. with the last clinic starting at 2 p.m.

"These clinics give kids a chance to learn about fishing, especially those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to find out what fishing is all about," said Matt Coffaro, DNR statewide urban fisheries biologist. “And it’s just a great opportunity for kids to get outside away from the electronics, get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors and all it has to offer.”

Members of local fishing clubs organize the clinics, and instruction includes fishing techniques, equipment use, knot tying, safety rules and fish identification. In spite of the unseasonably cold spring weather, the fishing instruction portion of the clinics will take place even if there is still ice cover.

“For 30 years, sport fishing groups have been the heart and muscle of this program,” Coffaro noted. "They do an outstanding job of teaching kids the basics of fishing and that fishing is fun. None of this works without the dedication of the volunteers."

The Department of Natural Resources and the Hunger Task Force Fish Hatchery will stock fish in the urban waters before the kids’ clinics are held. Fishing equipment is provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own rod and reel if possible.

Adult anglers are reminded that from March 8 through April 25, urban fishing waters are restricted to fishing by juveniles 15- years-old and younger and certain disabled anglers. Urban fishing waters are small lakes and ponds under 25 acres that are continuously and cooperatively managed with a municipality. The 2014 – 2015 fishing regulations list urban waters with these special regulations. The rule is designed to give young anglers and anglers with disabilities an opportunity to fish close to home before competition from adults limits their chances to catch fish.

Locations for the April 12 kids’ fishing clinics are:

Milwaukee County

            Brown Deer Park, 7835 N. Green Bay Rd. (Hosted by Okauchee Fishing Club)

            Greenfield Park, 2028 S. 124 St. (Hosted by Great Lakes Sport Fishermen; Milwaukee Casting Club)

            Humboldt Park, 3000 S. Howell Ave. (Hosted by Lunkers Unlimited)

            McCarty Park, 8214 W. Cleveland Ave. (Wheelchair accessible) (Hosted by Southside Sportsmen’s Club)

            McGovern Park, 5400 N. 51 Blvd. (Wheelchair accessible) (Hosted by Badger Fisherman’s League)

            Mitchell Park, 2200 W. Pierce St. (Hosted by Bay View Rod & Gun Club)

            Oak Creek Parkway, Oak Creek Pkwy and Mill Rd. in South Milwaukee (Hosted by Friends of the Oak Creek Millpond)

            Scout Lake Park, 5902 W. Loomis Rd. (Wheelchair accessible) (Hosted by Walleyes Unlimited, USA)

            Sheridan Park, 4800 S. Lake Dr. (Hosted by South Milwaukee 1400 Fishing & Hunting Club)

            Washington Park, 1859 N. 40th St. (Wheelchair accessible) (Hosted by E.B. Garner’s Fishing Club)

            Wilson Park, 1601 W. Howard Ave. (Hosted by Wisconsin Fishing Club)

           Racine County

Quarry Lake Park, 3800 Northwestern Ave. in Racine (Hosted by Salmon Unlimited)

           Sheboygan County

            Kohler-Andrae State Park, 1020 Beach Park Lane in Sheboygan (Hosted by Great Lakes Sports Fishermen-Sheboygan County Chapter)

Washington County

            Sandy Knoll Park, 2064 Wallace Lake Rd. in West Bend (Hosted by Trout Unlimited Southeast Chapter; West Bend Kiwanis Early Risers)

Waukesha County

                                    No park entrance fee will be charged.

                                    Parking passes will be distributed at the event.

            Menomonee Park/Lannon Quarry, W220 N7844 Town Line Rd. in Menomonee Falls, one-half mile north of Good Hope Rd. (Hosted by Wisconsin House Outdoorsmen)

Fox Brook Park, 2925 N. Barker Rd. in Brookfield (Hosted by Wern Valley Sportsmen’s Club)

            Muskego Park, S83 W20370 Janesville Rd. in Muskego (Hosted by Women’s Hunting and Sporting Association)

Fishing Report 3-30-14

Just a reminder...if you haven't done so already, you need a new fishing license.

River fishing is in a very early stage, but some positive reports are starting to trickle in. The reports from the Dells have been more positive, but I'm hearing some scattered reports from the Rock River as well.

The Milwaukee Harbor and the rivers have been active, but it seems like some days have been dramatically better than others. (Not unusual for this time of year)

On the area lakes, the panfish are in late ice areas, relating to the last of the weeds. Ice is getting a bit sketchy, especially in high traffic areas and areas in or adjacent to current but the baitshops are still reporting people are heading out. Be careful out there, PFD, Buddy-System and rescue tools for sure.

More as I get it.....

Cheers,
CT

Lunkers Garage Sale-This Week

This is always a can't miss event for me. This Thursday, 6-9pm in Hartland at the Bowling Alley.

April 3 rd Thursday 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Hartbrook Lanes 550 Hartbrook Drive, Hartland, WI
Come early and bring your old fishing and boating equipment 
Rent a table for $5.00 to sell your stuff.
Rods, Reels, Lures, motors, tackle, and a little of everything.
For info or to reserve table space call: Jeff Bartlett 262-894-2790

Lunkers Website is Here

I'll be there. Drop by and we can chat about fishing the Rock River or crappies when the ice comes off the lakes. Looks like it is going to be a unique spring opener this year...you'll certainly want to be stocked up on suspending jerkbaits and lipless crankbaits.

And we're back....Fishing Report 3-21-14

Finally,

We can start to have our weekly chats. I'm still working with limited information streams from my sources, but as spring stabilizes, I expect more info to start trickling in.

Open water fishing is underway in the Dells. People are reporting a tough bite, but still getting some action.

Open water fishing has started in the near shore areas of Lake Michigan. Some of the harbors are still iced in, but Lake-Link threads are starting to get active for the Bender Park area.

Closer to home, the Jefferson and Ft Atkinson areas of the Rock River are starting to open up. Mixed reports on conditions/what's open so far....but it is very early.

More as I get it.

I'm glad to be back. Leaving in a couple minutes to get the boat out of storage.

Cheers,
CT

Finally..something to report

This winter has been a killer....of that, there can be little doubt. But my friends, I bring news.

There is open water in the Dells. Yes, my friends, there is open water in the Dells. Your long lost companion, your boat, can once again hit the water in pursuit of fish.

More as I get it in. I'll be getting my boat out and prepped for my first trip on the water this weekend.

Stay Tuned!

New Fishing Regulations Part II

FYI....I have had lots of questions about the new regulations. At this point I know what you know about the proposal.

If you want to learn more about the proposed regulations, Lunkers Unlimited has invited Ben Heussner of the DNR to come and talk over the proposal with their club.

The public is welcome to attend according to emails I have gotten from a variety of club members. Lunkers is a quality fishing organization, and I commend them for putting this together.

The event is Thursday, February 20th at 7:30pm at Hartbrook Lanes in Hartland. The organization website is http://www.lunkersunlimitedwi.com/

Cheers,
CT

2015 Proposed Fishing Regs:

I've been seeing and hearing from lots of folks on this proposed change, a fairly radical set of changes, to fishing on the local lakes starting in 2015.

Personally, I don't see anything objectionable in these changes. The rules would include a "waiver" of the slot limits so that catch and release bass tournaments could still be held on the CRO lakes.


I'm posting this here for your information. Look it over. I know there's going to be lots of knee jerk reactions one way or the other...but I really think the DNR might be on the right track here. Feel free to comment below the post. An open dialogue on these proposals is a solid first step to improving our fishing opportunities.


From my email inbox:

Proposed Fishing Regulation Changes - Waukesha County

My name is Benjamin Heussner and I am a fisheries biologist for the WDNR responsible for Waukesha County waters.   I am looking for feedback from all user groups so it will best serve a diversity of anglers.  Please keep an open mind when reviewing this proposal as it is intended to benefit all species of fish on the various lakes by promoting protection of quality sized gamefish and panfish.

Thanks,

Benjamin Heussner
Fisheries Biologist
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
414-303-0109

Lunker's Fishoree/Meat Raffle -January 18th

From Jeff Bartlet at Lunkers:

"We are holding our annual fishoree at Curlys Waterfront Pewaukee Lake on Saturday the 18th of January. We will be having our meat raffles all day long as well. We will raffle off a Frabill ice shelter and many other prizes."

 That also happens to be a DNR "Free Fishing Weekend"

Lunkers is a great club and this a is a great annual event.

--Cheers,
CT

Checking In

Sorry things have been slow around these parts, but it has been a crazy busy fall for me. I wish I would have been out a bit more, but the reality is that I haven't been out very much.

I'll be bouncing in and out as is typical for the winter months. If you don't want to stop by to see if the blog has been updated, sign up on the right and you can get updates via email when I post them.

Over the winter I'll be posting and linking to lots of different instructional content, and I'll be back full time for week reports in early March.

Thanks for reading these reports.

Cheers,
CT

Fishing Report 11-16-13

Just a quickie today. Stop reading this, get your boat and get out on the water. Highs temps are going to be close to 60 degrees today and Sunday before seasonal temperatures set back in on Monday.

Musky fishing has been slow and steady. Water temps are in the right range for the biggest fish to start feeding aggressively, but reports of high 40-low 50 inch class fish have been hard to come by. Expect that to start to change as the season starts to wind down. Covering water pulling suckers on quickstrike rigs is your best option most days, but the warmer weather can give you a window for some casting success. Gliders, Jerkbaits or Bulldawgs are classic fall baits, but a spinner shouldn't be overlooked, especially around any green weeds you can still find.

River fishing for walleyes has been slow on the Rock River between Jefferson and Blackhawk Island. A few fish are being caught jigging deeper holes, but the water levels are very low.

Smallmouth are still biting in deep water on live bait. On warmer or sunny afternoons some wolf packs of fish are moving up onto structure for a quick feeding run. Big shiners on slip sinker rigs over 25-32 FOW can produce as can casting deep diving cranks, suspending jerkbaits or grubs and jigworms.

Good Luck,
CT

Requirements For Vehicles- Madison Lake Ice Fishing

From the Wisconsin State Journal:

On Lakes Mendota, Monona and Wingra, vehicles weighing over 850 pounds require a special permit, while vehicles weighing less than 850 pounds require flotation and a permit.

On all other Dane County lakes, vehicles over 850 pounds require a special use permit, vehicles between 750 and 850 pounds require flotation and a permit and vehicles under 750 pounds have no restrictions.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/flotation-equipment-needed-for-vehicles-on-frozen-dane-county-lakes/article_c2b2ec62-e8bd-5c05-bf96-62f2b8ed041d.html#ixzz2k4VHElF7

2013-14 inspections: For more information, go to http://www.danesheriff.com/marine_trail_ice.aspx

• Thursday night, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Dec. 5, 12, 19 and 26, and Jan. 2, 9, 16 and 30.
• Saturday morning, 7:30-9:30 a.m., Dec. 7, 14, 21, 28, and Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 15.

Hey gang-News and such 11-8-13

Things have been busy, and I haven't been checking in regularly.

For that I apologize.

Water temps are in the low 40's on most of the area lakes. Musky fishing has been slow but steady around the area. By the number of reports I am seeing, it seems that there's not many people on the water in comparison to many years.

Now is the time to target the big girls. Ironman this weekend on Pewaukee.

I'll be back for regularly scheduled reports next week.

Cheers,
CT

Fishing Report 10-14-13

There hasn't been much change on the water since I last checked in, but the weather man tells me that things will start to be a bit more seasonal later this week.

This, is as they say, is what we have been waiting for.

Water is in the high 50's to low 60's on most lakes. The warmer, sunny afternoons are bringing cooler surface temps back up each afternoon.

Fish will be doing one thing above all, chasing bait. Visible baitfish=gamefish. If you're going along and see baitfish (either visibly or on your electronics) slow down and fish the area methodically.

I'd keep your presentations on the smaller side until the cooler weather sets in for the duration, but if you're fishing live bait, you can get a little bigger. Smallmouth, largemouth, walleyes and pike will go nuts on live bait rigs with larger shiners.

LM are still patrolling and ambushing 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. They tend to do this a couple times a day this time of year. A large number of fish will use rocky areas in the early afternoons. Wacky worms and skirted grubs are great around the rocks. Jigworms, texas rigs and ji/trailers are great around the scattered weeds. Lipless crankbaits are great in both areas. Browns, greens, orange or blacks have been the best colors for plastics (pretty much as they are all year) but white or silver crankbaits are really starting to turn on as a pattern.

Walleye: Live minnows or nightcrawlers are the key unless fishing at night when minnowbaits can outpace. 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 is a slip-sinker or lindy rig with a big minnow. Nightcrawlers will still produce as well, especially when trolled very slowly on spinner harnesses along the first weedline breaks.

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. . Deep diving crankbaits in bluegill, perch or white/shad color patterns can work wonders right now: Hot N Tots and Wiggle Warts  are my favorites for trolling, while Norman D-22's, Spinnerbaits or Rattletraps are better options for casting. Drifting with medium suckers on a slip sinker rig, like you might consider doing while walleye fishing right now, should also be productive.

Musky: What can I say? It is time, pure and simple. The next six weeks will be prime-time. For now, focus your attention in 12-18 feet of water. Casting bucktails, gliders, swimbaits or especially jerkbaits can work, but don't forget to keep a sucker or two out on a quick-strike rig. Many fish that follow in lazily on a casting approach will turn on for the sucker hanging nearby.  By reports I got from around the area, North, Pewaukee, Okauchee, Oconomowoc, Garvin, Fowler and Lac Labelle all gave up fish this weekend, and the Madison lakes are really turning on. Fish are still running on the smaller side, but a handful of high 40's came in over the last ten days. I haven't seen or heard of a 50+ yet this season (from an area lake), but it is still very early for that class of fish.

Good Luck,
CT

Fishing report 9-28-13

Fall patterns are starting to catch on. Water was in the mid to high 60's on most area lakes. Weeds are still up, and fish schooling up on bait is becoming more and more common.


Bass are holding deep, but making foraging runs onto shallow breaks with baitfish. Fish are feeding hard mid morning and again in the later afternoon. Cover water, and be ready to catch a mixed bag of fish out of spots. Hit areas with visible baitfish hard, and don't overlook fish suspended off the first deep break over weeds.


Reports have the walleye bite as active. The fish I have been catching have been on the smaller side, but I heard some reports over the last couple days of some bigger fish being caught. The Rock River is very low, but Pine, Nagawicka, Oconomowoc North and Lac Labelle are giving up some fish. Vertically jigging weed edges adjacent to the drops has been producing, as have rapala stickbaits worked over submerged weeds, especially in the evenings.


Pike have been active, but quality fish have been harder to come by than would be typical for this time of year. Spinners, lipless cranks, spoons and buzzbaits are producing, especially on the flats with scatttered weeds. A few people are catching some bigger fish drifting deeper water with live bait on a slip sinker rig.


Musky fishing is really picking up. Fish are still on the deeper edges, but a few are coming in shallow to chase juvenile perch. Bucktails were the hot bait this week, with a handful of fish over 40 inches being reported. Sucker rigs caught some decent fish, especially on suckers fished in 18-25 FOW. Pewaukee has been very active, but Okauchee and Oconomowoc are giving up the larger fish. No word of Lac Labelle or Fowler for ski's this week.

Good Luck...stay safe,

CT

Fishing Report 9-21-13

Well...it certainly is fall now.

Fall things are happening which means if you don't need to be in your tree stand, you might consider hitting the water.

Water was still in the high 60's to low 70's and the end of the week, but the cooler temps, especially at night will start to drive that down quickly.

The hot bite has been bass. Typically early fall the pike action picks up substantially, but the bass have been the ones on the bite. Later in the day has been better, but there's really only one key to finding active fish: bait. Look for schools of baitfish along weededges, near isolated clumps of weeds on the flat areas, or moving around in the shallow off shore areas. If there's visible baitfish, or you can see pods of bait on your electronics...fish that area hard. I have been out a bunch, and all of the traditional approaches will work. I'm catching a solid batch of fish on flapper grubs, jigworms, wacky and texas rigs.

The fish are schooled up and feeding, but don't fret if you're just catching smaller fish...just keep working the pattern you are working and the bigger ones will start to show up.

Best bite has been from about 8-11 and again from about 3-6....typical for this time of year.


In terms of other things happening around the area....there's the musky. The cooler temps, and the rain have started to get some fish moving. A steady, if slow, stream of positive reports is starting to come in.

Pewaukee has had the most action (but is also getting fished the hardest)...with a fair number of mid 30 to low 40 inch class fish being caught. Bucktails, smaller bulldogs, cowgirls, jerks and gliders have all been producing. If you're going to put a sucker out (never a bad idea) try to stay with one in the 6-8 inch range for now. The cooler weather this weekend and the early part of the week is supposed to give way to another batch of weather in the mid 70's. In other words...it's not quite time to break out sucker-zilla just yet.

As for where to fish...weed edges seem to be producing the most follows right now.  Weed wedges on a point with schools of panfish suspending off of them are key...but don't overlook shallow rock or gravel areas on the sunny afternoons. The juvenile perch will move up onto the rocks on sunny days, and the musky will follow them in. Once the water is about 60 degrees and dropping, things will get interesting.

See you soon.

CT

Fishing report 9-15-13

Well, the weather today kept most of you on the couch for the Packer game. There's no shame in it, it was a nasty day.

When I was a kid, the old guy down the road used to call September rains like we had last night and today..."the trigger." He always believed that the first cold rain was the start of the fall season. I can't say I have empirically tested it, but it seems to hold true.

That means much of what people have been doing to catch fish is about to change. Good news...the biggest fish will start to become very active over the next couple of weeks. I love this time of year, and I'm always amazed how many people have called it a season by now.

Panfish will suspend off of mainlake points. They'll move in a couple times a day to feed, then move back out to suspend. Points that have 6-10 FOW on top, but 20-40 FOW around them are dynamite this time of year. Vertical tight-lines, fished just above the bottom is the best way to get keepers, but slip bobbers and drifting with split shot rigs can also produce.

Bass will be coming into the shallow water to feed. You can catch them in the places you have been, but the key factor will not be cover now, but bait. As the fish start to get aggressive for fall, I try to only fish areas where I can either visually spot or mark with my electronics schools of baitfish. These can be minnows or juvenile panfish....but no bait=no fish.

Pike fishing has been picking up the last ten days, but it will get super good over the next couple of weeks. I really like to use lipless cranks in a metalic or silver pattern around weeds on the edges of flat areas. It can be amazing how many you can catch using this approach.

Musky fishing will also pick up some as the temps cool. I'd still downsize your casting presentations a bit as I've seen some massive hardware getting thrown. Having a sucker out, and doing a figure eight on every cast is critical for success. Weed edges will hold fish, but I'll be spending some quality time around points that have schools of panfish on/near them.

Good Luck,
CT

North Lake Article

I received more than a few emails over the past couple of days about the trip to North Lake. Many people had questions about the fishing out there.

Picture from JSOnline.

I can only say this...we didn't fish very hard, or very long, but we caught a mess of bass there along some shallow drops and near some scattered weed clumps. It was an incredibly enjoyable experience to be with John and Paul that day, and I for one am very interested in getting out on the lake again soon.

Here's a link to JSOnline's Outdoors Page where you can read about the trip and John's incredible knowledge of the lake and its structure.

Fishing Report 9-9-13

Well gang,

We look to be in for some mixed weather this week so consider getting out this week. The lakes won't be too busy as many guys are thinking about their treestands and less about their trolling motors.

Water temps are in the mid to high 70's, but the cooler nights will start to bring that number down quick. Weeds are still very heavy, and at their end of summer peak. Baitfish populations are very high right now with a couple of big hatches in the last ten days.

Panfish are schooled up along the deep weed edges at the end of points, and in the deep sandgrass. A few are still suspending.

Bass are moving into their fall patterns, feeding heavily for a couple of short periods of time each day. They'll follow the baitfish into rocky areas and the inside weedlines, so keep your eyes open for schools of minnows. In the mornings and early evenings look for them to be roaming on the shallow flats and rockbars in search of food.  Floating Rapalas, wacky worms, jigworms, skirted grubs, lipless crankbaits, jig/chunk combos and texas rigged lizards are all delivering right now. If you find some fish on a weedline, a small squarebill crankbait, drop shot or crawling a big plastic worm will get you some action.

Northern Pike have finally turned on. You can still target them with live bait along the deep weedlines, but lipless crankbaits in a silver and blue pattern can really produce. Spinner baits and small bucktails or Mepps will also catch fish.

Walleye should be moving into shallow water, especially early and late, although I haven't heard or seen it happening just yet. For now trolling slowly with spinner rigs along the breaks between 10-15 or 18-22 feet of water is your best bet. The Rock River is very low, but Pine, North, Oconomowoc and Lac Labelle have all been giving up some decent numbers.

Musky fishing is just on the edge of getting started...I'd say it will get going in about two weeks. I saw lots of people throwing some big hardware over the last few days, and I'd recommend a downsized approach...smaller bucktails, jerkbaits and gliders. Most of the baitfish that are being targeted by larger species are still fairly small. Until the water cools a bit more, the realk fall feeding won't begin. Many fish have moved out of deeper water and are holding around the deep weed edges. A few are even roaming the shallow flats and a handful have moved onto the shallow rocks in search of juvenile perch. Most fish are being taken around weed edges by casters, but a few are still being caught while trolling crankbaits. Concentrate your efforts in areas with visible baitfish for the best chance at success.

Good Luck,
CT

Labor Day Weekend Fishing Report - 2013

Fishing is going strong overall, but patterning fish remains inconsistent from day to day. Once you're on a solid bite, stick with it.

Conditions around the area are typical for the end of August. After this batch of hot weather, weed growth is at summer peak and water temps are hovering around 80 degrees.

Panfish have really slowed down over the last ten days with the heat. Crappie and bluegill continue to bite along weedlines or suspended out over deep water. Plastics tipped with live bait, tail hooked minnows and leafworms fished vertically or with slip bobbers will produce, but you may have to put in a little time to find the keeping size fish. Evenings, especially both sides of dusk, have been better, as is typical for this time of year. If you're out with the kids and just need to catch some for "action" purposes, visually look for schools around the docks and fish for them with bobbers and small live bait.

Largemouth continue to run late summer patterns. On the hot sunny days, look for them around docks or slop, or out deep on the weed edges. Topwater bite has been excellent, especially early in the morning. There's a batch of fish using weed clumps in mid-depth (6-12 FOW) water that will bite all day, but you have to fish very tight to cover, and very, very slow. This has been the best pattern in terms of consistency over the last couple of weeks, and it is working great for people who put in the time. I'm catching most of the fish I am catching on a jig and crawler pitched or flipped into the weed clumps, and crawling it back to the boat.

Smallmouth fishing has been spotty like it has been most of the season. I'm not saying you can't catch fish, but you'll need to be ready to make some changes on the fly to stay on an active bite. If you can find some active fish, you can do well, but making that connection can be a tough nut to crack. Look for them around the edges of the  rock bars or sand/rock transition areas early, but by mid-morning the fish will be deeper than you think they should be. Jigworms, grubs, minnowbaits, tubes (watermelon especially) and small white crankbaits can be dynamite.

Walleye fishing dropped off dramatically in the heat. Some fish are coming out of 18-25 FOW, but finding some fish in the weeds early and late in the day is your best bet. I'd jig tight to weed edges with the biggest leaches you can find, or lindy rig with small suckers. If you're out close to dark, you may be able to trigger some fish casting minnowbaits like rapalas, rouges or thundersticks over weed clumps adjacent to deeper water.

Pike fishing has been slow, but steady. Lots of undersized fish are being caught in the shallow and mid-depth areas. I'd consider moving out deeper and using live bait on a slip sinker rig, trying to connect with active fish in 18-22 or 22-25 feet of water. There has been a little action early in the day on buzzbaits fished over shallow flats, and throwing reapers at deeper patches of weeds in the evenings (very common late summer patterns)...but the catch rates I'm seeing and hearing have not impressed me. I think the water temperatures need to come down (and stay down) before the pike fishing really picks up.

Musky: Still Early. Most anglers are reporting some lazy follows and undersized fish for the most part. Gliders, bulldogs and cow-girls have all produced in the past week, but most of the fish are mid-30's to low 40 inch fish. Unless this is your last weekend to get out, I wouldn't bother.



Good Luck, Be Safe and Enjoy the Holiday.

Cheers,
CT

Fishing this week.

It looks to be an interesting couple of days ahead this week. Hot weather, high temps and random thunderstorms....

Suggestion: Top water fishing could be on fire early and late. This is true for everything from spider flies for panfish, to poppers for bass, to buzzbaits for pike to top raiders orwalk the dog baits for musky.

Look for fish to be schooled up and chasing bait close to weed clumps on flats areas, weedlines on the end of points or near rock-weed transitions in shallow water. Slop fishing should be fantastic this week.

Give it a go. Then drop me a line (Click here) to let me know how it went.

Cheers,
CT

Fishing Report 8-23-13

Wow, summer is coming to a close and you can bet that the fish know it.

This has been a good fishing season, but patterning fish has been challenging at times. I expect to see that change over the next five weeks. I have been out each of the last six days for several hours. The fish are transitioning to fall patterns.


Panfish are moving to weed-edges and shallow weed clumps at the end of points. Classic fall behavior. The best fishing is in the deeper weeds along the bottom/drop off of main lake structure/points. Slip bobbers will work, but vertically fishing for the deeper fish can really produce. Don't be afraid to use big bait, inlcuding panfish leeches if you can find them.

Bass are starting to school up and chase bait. Look for active fish to be chasing late hatching baitfish on shallow flats. Topwaters, jigworms, grubs and wacky worms can really catch some quality bags right now, especially if you're close to active fish.

Walleye are using weed edges and patrolling the flats for bait. Jigging in the weeds can be dynamite, especially early and late.

Pike are making an early fall move, and I saw several quality pike patrolling the shallow water in search of food when I was out yesterday and today. Buzzbaits, spinners and small lipless crankbaits will all produce right now.

Musky fishing is picking up as anglers start breaking out the big gear. A few fish are being caught, but I think it needs a week or two to really get started.

Updated fishing report: 8-23-13

I'm heading out right now, but the updated report will be posted later today.

Cheers,
CT

FISHING REPORT 8-13-13

Hey gang,

Sorry the Friday report didn't post. I did it from my mobile and I didn't check to see if it was up.

Fishing has been fairly slow. It is steady, but with the days getting shorter and the temperatures dropping, I would really expect things to be much better than they have been.

I've been on the water a ton, and I have fished lots of our local lakes, the last two weeks. Fishing tight to cover seems to be the best way to get a bite....and it really doesn't matter what you are fishing for when I say that.


Panfish are tight to the weed-edges, and in the deeper sandgrass. I am catching better sized fish out of 12-18 FOW in the weeds, than out suspended. Tight-line vertical fishing is a great way to target these fish. Still catching a bunch using plastics, but bigger red-worms and leaf worms seem to be the hot ticket right now.

The bass bite has been tough. Not impossible, just tough. You really have to work for consistent fishing. Tight to cover, especially weed breaks or rocks in 8-12FOW is really holding fish, but you have to tick the weed-edge to get bit. Slop fishing is still producing, but I'm catching more fish out of the small patches of slop around docks than the bigger areas.

Pike Fishing has been slow and steady. Spinners, buzzbaits and lipless cranks are working over flat areas with patches of scattered weeds, and dep-diving cranks and swim baits have been catching some fish along the deeper weed edges. Golden Lake has been on fire by most accounts.

Walleye have been biting like the bass...slow and steady. Presentation seems to be the key. Jigging in the weeds, or drifting/trolling lindy rigs along the deeper weed edges has been producing. Some guys are starting to catch some fish around dusk throwing rapalas over the tops of weed clumps in 6-12 FOW.

Musky fishing has been slow, but a few fish are still being caught on jerkbaits, bulldogs and gliders fished over the top of deep weed edges/sharp breaks.

Good Luck
CT


PS...Here's a selection of photos from the last couple of weeks.

NAG 3+ Lbs

Lac Labelle...Walleye #602 This Season and Still No Legals.

One of more than 30 during a morning trip to Silver.

Tough Day On Okauchee was made better by this 4+lb Largemouth.

I Like to Teach Kids to Fish...Out for bluegills with my son and his friends.

Fishing Report 8-2-13

Fishing has slowed a bit over the past week. Fish are still biting, but the bite has been slow, and often tough to trigger.

Panfish are suspending in deeper water, or holding tight to the bottom in areas where the weedline in adjacent to a steep drop off. A few keepers are in the mid depth clumps in current areas. Tightlining vertically, slip bobbers or light lindy rigs are your best options for chasing keepers. Drifting or moving as slow as possible with your electric motor until you find pods of active fish is the best approach. Look for suspended fish in 25-40 FOW, about 12-18 feet down.

The bass bite dropped off substantially this week. Fish are still biting, but the catch rate and size of the fish being caught is down a bunch from just ten days ago. Largemouth are making a slow move into transition areas, but it has been hard to pattern fish day to day. Docks and slop are holding fish during the sunny days, and fish are chasing bait early and late on the mid-depth (6-12 FOW) flats. Topwater, minnowbaits, grubs, flappers and jigworms are catching these schooling fish. Flipping into holes on the outside edge of the weedline, or on inside turns has been slow, but productive.

Smallmouth have been more active, starting to wolfpack mid depth transition areas. The crayfish molt is imminent and there will be a quick move onto the shallow rocks and gravel areas when that occurs, but for now, drop shotting edges, humps and current breaks, wacky, small cranks and soft jerkbaits are all catching fish.

Walleye bite has been hit or miss. The fish are tight to weed edges or in the deeper sandgrass. Lots of guys are reporting some short bites, and I certainly saw this when I was on the water this week. I didn't do any night fishing this week, but I'd guess the fish have been active after dark.  Slow death and back trolling lindy rigs with live bait has been producing, but like most of the fishing during the last week, some days have been far better than others.

Pike fishing has been steady for action, but inconsistent day to day. The fish are doing what they should be doing (chasing baitfish in open water along the weedlines) but connecting with them has been difficult to do. Live bait rigs are still catching fish in the 15-22 FOW range, and buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and lipless cranks are still moving fish out of isolated clumps of weeds in flat areas.

Musky fishing has been slow. Very few reports of legal (40+inch fish) coming in. Smaller fish are chasing bait Mid-morning and round dusk. The topwater bite dropped off, but I'm hearing about lots of follows on gliders and smaller jerkbaits.

Good Luck,
CT

Fishing Report 7-29-13

Summer is flying by...


Water is in the low to mid 70's on most area lakes, with heavy algae blooms.

The cooler weather usually makes for tough conditions this time of year, but we've had a batch of relatively stable weather and that has made for some good, but mixed fishing.

Panfish are still suspending in deeper water, but the cooler weather has pulled them tighter to the weed edge or the ends of points. 15-18 feet down over 25-25 feet of water is still holding schools, but weedy points with sharp drop offs have been really productive. Remember to get your bait down, as the smaller fish in the schools will be towards the top. Slip bobbers, tight lining vertically or light lindy rigs thrown shallow and dragged off the edge of steep structure and allowed to sink have been really producing.

Bass are doing there usual late summer things. There's still fish on the docks and in the slop, as well as out on the weed edge, but more than a few are starting to school up baitfish on the flats with scattered cover. Topwater can be really productive, but I'm catching lots of fish on a flapper grub and jigworms. Pitching holes in the slop or weed edges with a jig/craw or tube has been working when the bite has been a little tough, and texas rigging the outside edge has been a solid bite all season.

Smallmouth are active, but the bite has been very inconsistent. Some days...wow. Some days...nothing. Hard to predict, but this is very common this time of year as deeper fish start to transition to shallow rocks for the crayfish molt which is imminent. Check back next week.

Walleyes are still biting. The bite during the day is slow, but steady. Early and lake have been gangbusters all season. We've had a mild summer, and I don't think the fish really ever left the areas they use in the late spring.Weed edges in 12-18 FOW are holding lots of baitfish and the walleyes are there with the bait, but don't overlook the other batch of fish in the deeper sandgrass (where the perch like to hide this time of year.) Trolling cranks really turned on the last two weeks.

Pike fishing is steady and relatively consistent. Fish have moved to the weed edge, are suspending over 30-50' FOW or are roaming the shallow flats. Casting spinners, buzzbaits, lipless cranks, or wide bodies square bills will generate decent action, but the better fish are coming on small suckers on a slip-sinker rig.

Good Luck,
CT

Fishing Report 7-18-13

Boy is it hot. But the weatherman promises a cool off this weekend for some relief.

Fishing has been good the past week, but at either end of the day. You can catch fish during the hot parts of the day, but you have to work for them.

Water temps have creeped into the low to mid 80's on many area lakes and weed growth is at summer peak.

Panfish are moving into cover and suspending out over deeper water. Looking for quick action? Fish around docks that are close to drop offs or that hang out over deeper water. Looking for keepers? Move out to deeper water and fish for the schools of suspended pannies that are just off the weedlines or long, mainlake points. The best keepers are coming 18-22 feet down over 35-60 FOW.

Bass are feeding heavy early. From just before sun-up to about 8:30am, fish are moving in on shallow breaks. Although I'm sure they are eating a variety of things right now, bigger fish seemed to be keyed in on juvenile panfish, schooling them up and chowing down. The bite has been good until the sun comes up, but as soon as it has gotten hot, fish have pulled back out to 12+ FOW, moved under the docks or into the slop. I'm catching lots of fish pitching flapper grubs around isolated weed patches or stands of ribbon tail. Once the fish are on the docks, wacky, tubes and jig/chunks are catching them. Fishing the slop is producing, but I'm catching more fish flipping the holes with a beaver or jig than on a rat or frog. The pattern repeats itself again in the afternoon. Fish start moving in as banks start to get shade on them, usually around 4pm and the bite is solid until just after dark.

Pike fishing has slowed down substantially in the heat. Deeper weed edges fished with crankbaits, spinners and large plastics has been productive. Live bait in the form of small sucker or the biggest shiners you can get your hands on, on a slip sinker rig will produce...especially if you can find some weeds in 18-22 FOW. Don't overlook the sandgrass flats. A good patch of coontail on a deeper flat can/will hold multiple fish.

Walleye bite has really slowed down during the day, but is still solid early and later in the day. Weed edges fished with jigs or lindy rigs are still producing, but the fish have moved out to the secondary break in 15-18 FOW. In the evening, fish are moving into the shallow weeds and can be caught throwing minnowbaits over the top of submergent weeds in 6-15 FOW. You need to tick the weeds to get a bite.

In terms of Musky fishing...the only positive reports I heard in the past week were for topwater action very early, but especially just after dark. A couple of decent fish were caught in the last two weeks just after twilight over weedflats in 6-12 FOW.

Good Luck,
CT

Fishing Report 7-12-13

 Summertime.

Bass fishing has remained fairly consistent. There's an early bite happening on most lakes up until about 9:30am. The fish are then moving into the weeds, under piers or into the slop. They can be targeted around overhanging cover or weededges adjacent to deeper water. The bite is picking up again around 3:30 and remains fairly consistent until dark. Fish are being taken in shallow water on wacky worms, (white, green and rootbeer have been a hot colors) tubes, skirted grubs and shakey head worms. Deeper fish are coming on jigworms, texas rigged plastics or jigs with a craw or chunk trailer. Live bait, chubs, leeches or crawlers on a slip sinker or lindy rig have also been catching some fish as deep as 25 FOW on the clear water lakes.

Northern pike continue to bite. As is typical for this point in the season, shallow fish are still being caught on spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and lipless crankbaits around shallow weed clumps on the flats in 5-10FOW. Deeper fish are being taken using live bait, chubs and/or shiners, long lined on slip-sinker rigs. Trolling deep-diving crankbaits in natural or metalic (ie shiny) patterns like the rapala DT, hot n tots, or wiggle warts around the weed edges has also been producing some fish. 18-22 FOW seems to be the hot zone for pike right now, but if its sunny this week, don't be surprised to find them out deeper.

Walleye fishing has dropped off substantially, but expect the bite to pick back up as the sun gives way to some clouds, and more importantly, some wind. The  lack of wind during this last stretch has really pushed the walleye to low light activity cycles, and people's catch rates have dropped off. If you're going to look for them, I'd start by trolling small minnow baits around the ends of deep points and midlake bars trying to find some suspended fish, or back troll (slowly) around deep weed edges in 18-22 fow with live bait.

Catfishing on the Rock and Fox has been decent, but most of the fish that are being caught are a little smaller. You want a meal...its a great option, if you're looking to do battle with a monster, you might want to wait a bit. Cutbait has been outproducing stink bait or nightcrawlers.

Musky fishing has picked up a bit, especially early and late when people have been putting in the time. Most of the fish are being caught while trolling deep edges and over deep flat structure in 22-45 fow, but a few are still coming on topwater during low light periods, especially very early in the morning. Look for them suspended around deep water structure, especially the deep end of long points.

Good Luck.

Cheers,
CT

Holiday Fishing Report -7-3-13

Happy Independence Day Weekend.

The holiday weekend looks to have temperatures cool off to September levels, so you can expect the activity from both anglers and fish to pick up. Remember, the photo cycle is shrinking, but that the sun is at its most direct over the next couple of weeks. You can really increase your success by fishing early mornings, evenings and if you can stand the bugs, at night.

Around the area...water temps are in the mid to high 70's. Weed growth is about average for this time of year. Lots of baitfish are swimming around, with hatches on pin minnows and panfish over the last two weeks.

Panfish Looking for action? Small panfish can be caught in shallow water using a small hook, bobber and live bait, especially around docks or swim platforms. A few fish are still spawning, but I saw hatched bluegill fry swimming around (and being fed on) on Golden Lake. The better sized fish are being caught out of the deeper water by anglers drifting and fishing vertically. Look for gills to be suspending about 10-12 feet down over 18-25 FOW or 12-18 over 30-45 FOW. If you're on a deep school, but not catching keepers, get your bait down a little deeper. Crappie are suspending over deep water, and along weed edges, and the activity has been steady by anglers who find the schools.

Largemouth bass are moving traditional summer patterns.  Look for them in inside weed edges in 4-6 FOW  and the outside edges in 8-15 FOW. These fish can be caught on a variety of tackle, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, texas rigged wacky Worms, Shakey heads, skirted grubs and tubes. Piers are holding more fish with the hot sunny days, and the slop has been pretty good. Looking for some real fun? Topwaters are still catching fish over the weedflats in 5-12 feet right now, but only consistently before and at first light, and the topwater bite drops off substantially by 8am. 

Smallmouth bass fishing was below average this past week, but with the clouds and cooler temps, the fish will come back into the shallows to feed. Fish are using rocky points and bars especially early and later in the day. Most fish are holding on the deep side of breaks or suspending off mainlake structure, coming in briefly to forage. Skirted grubs, twister tails, tubes, wacky worms, shakey heads, lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits or floating rapalas are your best tackle options, but live bait like leeches and small suckers has been working for the people backtrolling deep sand in 18-25 feet.

Walleye fishing has been steady. Anglers putting in time are catching a fish, although keepers have been hard to come by. Fish continue to be caught along outside weed edges or off deeper flats with sandgrass. Slip bobbers or split shot rigs with live bait or suckers, backtrolled on lindy or a slip-sinker rig has been producing the larger fish. Fishing over the tops of weed clumps near breaklines with floating rapala minnows is grabbing a few as well, especially during low light conditions.

Pike fishing has been a little below average with tons of smaller pike being reported. Active fish are using the shallow weedflats to feed on small baitfish, including a massive bloom in juvenile panfish. Fish with willow leaf spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, small bucktails or buzzbaits tight to scattered weedclumps in 4-8 FOW. Larger pike were hard to come by according to most reports, but if you want to chase them, try the weedline in 12-18 feet of water and fish with suckers or large shiners on a slip sinker rig or troll with deep diving crankbaits as close to the weedline as you can without getting hung up. I caught a couple of nice fish yesterday working an outside edge with a large plastic bait on a texas rig.

Musky fishing remains slow overall, on the bright sunny days, target suspended fish out over deeper on smaller lipless crankbaits, gliders and bucktails. A few fish have been caught off the weedline on larger swimbaits. Anglers continue to report lots of lazy follows, so consider keeping a smaller sucker out.

Lake By Lake:

Okauchee:  Bass are on the piers, in the slop and on the weed edges in 8-15 FOW. Musky are feeding in the shallows in the morning, and then moving out to 18-22 feet. Nothing substantial to report on panfish as the spawn is largely over, but look for them to be schooled up at the end of points over deeper water.

Garvin: Great spot for panfish lately with some nice keepers. Look for the sunken wood in 10-15 feet. Musky are still using the treeline break and suspending off the south drop. Bass are using the shallow flat areas. Pike are on the deep weedlines on the northwest and north east corners, and suspending over the deeper water.

Forest: Panfish and pike have been biting. Live bait over the deep holes on slip bobbers for panfish, inline spinners for the pike.

Oconomowoc: Fishing has slowed down, but pressure has been very slim this season. Mornings and evenings have been best. Bass are holding on the obvious structural breaks and suspending off the deep ends of the mainlake points. Northern pike and walleye fishing has been best for anglers using small suckers catching the majority of the fish, pike was better than walleye during the day.  Musky fishing was slow, but lots of fish are still doing lazy follows, and lots of people are reporting that they are seeing fish in shallow water chasing juvenile gills.

Fowler: Small panfish are biting, a few LM were caught in the river and out of the deep slop. Pike are on the weedlines.


Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is moving toward its typical summer pace. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks are still holding fish as are drop-offs in 18-25 FOW. Musky have moved out to suspend over deep water in the main basin. White bass have been stealing lots of bait from walleye and panfisherman.

Moose:  Bass and pike continue to bite, and action has been steady. Target the breaks and weed clumps in shallow water with crankbaits or spinners. Backtrolling with small suckers on a slip sinker rigs around the first major drop to deep water has been a hot tactic, especially in low light conditions. Mornings have been better, but gamefish are biting all day. Plenty of easy to catch, albeit small, panfish in the shallows for the kids to have some fun.

Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been biting, and the action is close to average for this time of year. Best bet on Ashipunn is to concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles with spinners or plastics. Flipping tubes, lizards or long straight tailed worms to visible weed pockets is producing numbers, bigger fish are coming on jigs or skirted grubs that hit isolated patches of weeds in deeper water.

Golden: Bluegills are moving out to deeper water, suspending over the deep part of the basin, but holding close to weed edges adjacent to deeper water. Crappie are in huge schools suspending off the points and weed edges. Bass have been biting best in the morning, but a deeper weedline bite has been picking up, especially in the afternoon.. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished through the weedy areas.

Silver:  Bass can be caught using plastics around the weed clumps in 4-15 feet or around piers and boat lifts. Crappies have been suspending over the east cribs, and keeper bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 12-18 FOW.

Nagawicka: Largemouths are average, and in summer patterns so look to catch them off boat docks, in the slop and along the shallow weed edges. One report has the gills still spawning, but only in the deeper sand. Pike have been average, especially on crankbaits or buzzbaits fished over weed edges at either end of the lake.

Kessus: Bass have been good, and are on the gravel, under docks/pontoons and on the points. Pike are actively feeding on you of the year bluegills.

Pewaukee:Bass have been good, Musky anglers are seeing, but not catching, many fish.

Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water with sandgrass, and largemouths are being caught around shallow to mid depth weeds. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially leeches or leafworms  has been very good for both bass and panfish. Night fishing is really picking up on Middle.

Rock River: the Catfish bite has been slow at night.

If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.

Good Luck, and stay safe this holiday weekend.

Fishing Report 6-28-13

Fishing has been hit or miss the last week as fish have been feeding during blocks of time each day. If you're on them when they feed, the fishing has been good, but this run of unstable weather has made them very hard to pattern.

Right now most lakes are in the mid to high 70s. Weed growth varies from lake to lake, but is about average for this point in the year.

Bass Fishing has been steady, 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 when its not raining cats and dogs, 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 slow but steady, with a fair number 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, buzzbaits and spinner baits are also producing, especially in the shallow water, with topwater baits producing before first light or after dark.

Musky fishing continues to be slower than average. 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. Gliders and bucktails seem to be producing the most follows, but converting fish has been difficult. A few people are starting to troll the deeper basins, but I haven't heard about much in the way of success.

Walleye fishing has been pretty good, but much better on the windy days of after dark. Fish on Lac Labelle, Oconomowoc, Pine and Fox Lake are still using shallow weeds and weed edges. If you can find a weed edge in 15-18 FOW, sit on it. Jigging with live bait or drifting with lindy rigs/ spinner harnesses has been productive Trolling with Shad Raps is picking up, as is typical for this time of year....slower speeds over the deeper part of the basins appears to be the trick.

Bluegills are almost done spawning on most area lakes. If you're looking for action, areas of beds can still 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