Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Monday, March 23, 2015
Triggering Events
When Musky Mike was alive he and I would have long talks about fishing patterns, and things to watch for. It is a conversation I have had many times, but along different ideas, with some of the best fisherman I have ever known in my life. Texas bass fishing legend Jackie Walker taught me more about fishing in a single weekend than I could have learned in years of trial and error on the water. He too was a big proponent of the concept that in each year there are a couple of near perfect fishing opportunities that arise.
Friends, I believe we are approaching this year's first window. The precipitation that will fall over the next week, combined with a slowly rising temperature and a Full Moon Phase in the cards for later next week, you have a solid window opening for river walleye fishing between now and Easter.
Small males are already staging for runs to the spawning grounds, the bigger fish usually follow them in 7-10 days later....which means this year, things are right on schedule. Nature takes care of itself with these things, and we're looking at a solid window of opportunity starting mid week.
Get on the water.
Cheers,
CT
Friends, I believe we are approaching this year's first window. The precipitation that will fall over the next week, combined with a slowly rising temperature and a Full Moon Phase in the cards for later next week, you have a solid window opening for river walleye fishing between now and Easter.
Small males are already staging for runs to the spawning grounds, the bigger fish usually follow them in 7-10 days later....which means this year, things are right on schedule. Nature takes care of itself with these things, and we're looking at a solid window of opportunity starting mid week.
Get on the water.
Cheers,
CT
Friday, March 20, 2015
Fishing Report 3-20-15
Happy Spring to you.
Here's a short rundown on what's going on.
The early season river fishing is happening in all of the usual spots. Conditions, while still in an early stage of the various runs, are ripe for fishing.
Depere is open and people are meeting with fairly typical early season success. Expect the area to go full boats over the next 10 days as guys try to get on the trophy walleye bite.
Fishing in the Dells is picking up, although anglers are still reporting a range of success.
Fishing at Oshkosh, Omro, Fremont and Winneconne is just getting started, and although my most current report is a couple days old, there was still some serious ice flows moving through. In all though, both shore and boat anglers were reporting some success with early run fish.
Closer to home, the Jefferson to Blackhawk stretch of the Rock River was in the high 30's yesterday. Notable though is the limited current flow and relatively low water conditions which are happening. Fish are being caught, but it has been slow, and mostly smaller gamefish or rough fish.
With a cold front on the way, it might make sense to hold off until after the rain moves through early next week.
The Milwaukee Harbor has been active, with trollers pulling in mixed bags of trout.
Most of the local lakes are breaking up, but are still ice covered. The rain and warmer temperatures that are on the way are sure to get things going, but for now, it is river fishing that's on the agenda.
Stay tuned.
Here's a short rundown on what's going on.
The early season river fishing is happening in all of the usual spots. Conditions, while still in an early stage of the various runs, are ripe for fishing.
Depere is open and people are meeting with fairly typical early season success. Expect the area to go full boats over the next 10 days as guys try to get on the trophy walleye bite.
Fishing in the Dells is picking up, although anglers are still reporting a range of success.
Fishing at Oshkosh, Omro, Fremont and Winneconne is just getting started, and although my most current report is a couple days old, there was still some serious ice flows moving through. In all though, both shore and boat anglers were reporting some success with early run fish.
Closer to home, the Jefferson to Blackhawk stretch of the Rock River was in the high 30's yesterday. Notable though is the limited current flow and relatively low water conditions which are happening. Fish are being caught, but it has been slow, and mostly smaller gamefish or rough fish.
With a cold front on the way, it might make sense to hold off until after the rain moves through early next week.
The Milwaukee Harbor has been active, with trollers pulling in mixed bags of trout.
Most of the local lakes are breaking up, but are still ice covered. The rain and warmer temperatures that are on the way are sure to get things going, but for now, it is river fishing that's on the agenda.
Stay tuned.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Rock River Data
Rock River Data
USGS Data (At Fort Atkinson)
Public Boat Launches:
Links to JSOnline Articles about Fishing the Rock River in Springtime:
Link to the fish passage camera:
Jefferson Dam1 Jefferson Dam (Has been offline)
Friday, March 13, 2015
Weekend Update 3-13-15
Well gang, the nice weather has some water open...stress on the some, and double stress on the need for serious safety if you're going to put a boat in the water.
According to a couple of sources...there's fishable water open in the Dells and at Fremont. Not much, but some. I'd suggest caution, and maybe a phone call to a local source before you make the drive. Shore fishing has started at Depere, but obviously it is very early. Apparently some boats are launching at Bender Park as well, but I haven't heard anything personally either way, or anything about the harbor fishing conditions.
Dick Smith's "Hot Spots" dated 3-11-15 says there's open water below the Jefferson Dam and Becky and her crew always have good information. Everything I have heard says that the ice is heavy at Indianford and Jefferson, and the Fort Atkinson/Blackhawk Island launches are still locked in. With this weather, things will start to happen quick, but as off 3:30pm Friday, I've heard fishable water was "very limited" on the nearby sections of the Rock River.
I'm hearing mixed reports about the local ice, but a consistent drone that the fishing (now only for panfish) on most of our local waters that fishing has been pretty slow.
I'll be prepping the boat this weekend, and I'm going to try and get out next week (Spring Break at UWM) and I'll get you information as I get it.
Thanks for tuning in for another open water season.
Cheers,
CT
According to a couple of sources...there's fishable water open in the Dells and at Fremont. Not much, but some. I'd suggest caution, and maybe a phone call to a local source before you make the drive. Shore fishing has started at Depere, but obviously it is very early. Apparently some boats are launching at Bender Park as well, but I haven't heard anything personally either way, or anything about the harbor fishing conditions.
Dick Smith's "Hot Spots" dated 3-11-15 says there's open water below the Jefferson Dam and Becky and her crew always have good information. Everything I have heard says that the ice is heavy at Indianford and Jefferson, and the Fort Atkinson/Blackhawk Island launches are still locked in. With this weather, things will start to happen quick, but as off 3:30pm Friday, I've heard fishable water was "very limited" on the nearby sections of the Rock River.
I'm hearing mixed reports about the local ice, but a consistent drone that the fishing (now only for panfish) on most of our local waters that fishing has been pretty slow.
I'll be prepping the boat this weekend, and I'm going to try and get out next week (Spring Break at UWM) and I'll get you information as I get it.
Thanks for tuning in for another open water season.
Cheers,
CT
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Warm Weather and the "Itch" (Fishing Info 3-10-15)
Two nice days in a row has led to a series of emails about potential early open water fishing.
Here's what I have heard: Nothing is really open, much less happening yet. This includes the Wisconsin Dells, The Fox River at Oskosh and at Depere, the Wolf River and the Rock River between the Jefferson Dam and Blackhawk.
I'd expect a couple more days of weather like we had today would start to open things on the rivers up. I'll stay on top of things as I can, so keep checking back...when I hear something, I will post it asap. In the meantime, catch and release trout is happening.
Get ready for spring runs.
Here's what I have heard: Nothing is really open, much less happening yet. This includes the Wisconsin Dells, The Fox River at Oskosh and at Depere, the Wolf River and the Rock River between the Jefferson Dam and Blackhawk.
I'd expect a couple more days of weather like we had today would start to open things on the rivers up. I'll stay on top of things as I can, so keep checking back...when I hear something, I will post it asap. In the meantime, catch and release trout is happening.
Get ready for spring runs.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Fishing Update
Your last run at gamefish is this weekend, as inland gamefish season closes on March 1st.
There's one last chance to catch that trophy before you have to move to open season waters, until of course, open water.
Early (catch and release) Trout Season starts March 7th. More information is here with a good information video here.
Not much else happening in terms of open water...so hit the ice and stay tuned, it'll be spring soon enough.
Update (3-2-15):
I just received this email from the DNR: Next Saturday's early trout season opener may be a bit on the chilly side, with statewide temperatures projected to remain below freezing through this week. The good news, state fisheries biologists say, is that many of the state's top trout waters feature strong groundwater flows and stay free of ice. So, the trout will be there waiting if anglers can gear up properly to manage the cold.
Join DNR fisheries staff for a live chat on Tuesday, March 3 at noon for a discussion all about the 2015 early trout season. From fishing tips to ways to have fishing success in the cold, our staff will be ready to take your questions.
To join the conversation, visit the DNR home page, dnr.wi.gov, and click on the picture to join the chat or click on "ask the experts" in the Popular Links section. You can also join the chat via our Facebook page at facebook.com/WIDNR and by clicking the “Ask the Experts Chat” link at the top of our page.
There's one last chance to catch that trophy before you have to move to open season waters, until of course, open water.
Early (catch and release) Trout Season starts March 7th. More information is here with a good information video here.
Not much else happening in terms of open water...so hit the ice and stay tuned, it'll be spring soon enough.
Update (3-2-15):
I just received this email from the DNR: Next Saturday's early trout season opener may be a bit on the chilly side, with statewide temperatures projected to remain below freezing through this week. The good news, state fisheries biologists say, is that many of the state's top trout waters feature strong groundwater flows and stay free of ice. So, the trout will be there waiting if anglers can gear up properly to manage the cold.
Join DNR fisheries staff for a live chat on Tuesday, March 3 at noon for a discussion all about the 2015 early trout season. From fishing tips to ways to have fishing success in the cold, our staff will be ready to take your questions.
To join the conversation, visit the DNR home page, dnr.wi.gov, and click on the picture to join the chat or click on "ask the experts" in the Popular Links section. You can also join the chat via our Facebook page at facebook.com/WIDNR and by clicking the “Ask the Experts Chat” link at the top of our page.
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