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