DNR Spring Hearings

Paul Smith of the Journal-Sentinel has an article up today about some of the issues for the spring hearings. You can read the article here. The DNR Document with the questions is here.

A couple of local issues on the docket:

1.) Changes to some of the local the fish refuge rules:



2.) Walleye Bag and Size Limits

Pewaukee, Nagawicka and Pine would have a 3 fish, 18 in minimum as would Big Cedar and Gilbert Lakes in Washington County.



Lac Labelle size limit on walleye raised to 28 in minimum, with limit of one per day.

 


3.) Pike Bag and Size Limit Changes

32in minimum, 1 fish limit on Northern Pike for Pewaukee, Lac Labelle, Eagle Spring and Lu Lu Lakes.




4.) It looks like our local area will not have many lakes brought under the new 25/10 or 15/5 panfish provisions, but a couple of nearby lakes will be voted on:

Fishing Report 2-1-15

Everyone,

We've hit our solid mid-winter patterns over the last 8-10 days. There's a month of quality fishing ahead.

If you've paid any attention to the news, you know that there's been a series of go-throughs this year. Always, always be careful out there, especially over deeper water and in areas with current or springs. Ice thickness varies greatly this season, and 6-8 inches might be right next to 3-4 or less.

Midwinter Tip: To have Productive days, anglers need to be prepared to move around and re-set up over active fish multiple times during the day.

Pike: The size of fish has dropped off a little over the last week, but anglers continue to connect with decent numbers of fish. Fish are starting to roam weedy, flat areas and having a wide spread to your gear is the best way to connect with active fish. While I have been recommending the use of larger live bait the last few updates, you might want to mix it up a bit now, baiting with different sized shiners to see what the fish are chasing. Our lakes have incredible baitfish populations, and shiners are one of the key forage species, but if the fish are keyed in on a certain size, they may not chase bait that is smaller or larger. We're right on the cusp of switching to deadbait as well.

For now, stick to a mix of shiner sizes, using heavy flourocarbon leaders with a red treble.

Panfish fishing has slowed a bit as most anglers are still trying to target them in early ice locations instead of looking for the suspended over deeper water.

Look at a map, or remember your summertime structure fishing. Look for structure in 12-22 or 25-35 feet of water, chances are if you focus your efforts in these areas you will find fish. Electronics: flashers, graphs or cameras can really cut the searching time down. Right now I suggest drilling a series of holes around structure then going back for a look-see with you gear. Be ready to move around to find active schools. Tip: Remember the biggest gills will be at the bottom of a school, so if you're working an active pod of fish, but they are small, try to get setup a little deeper with your presentation.

Fishing Report 1-22-15

Hey gang,

Conditions haven't changed radically over the past week to 10 days. On days with higher pressure, the fishing can be tough. The pike continue to bite, and while the numbers are down slightly, the size of the fish is still above average.

Keessus, Nehmabin, Okauchee, Golden, Moose, Fowler and School Section  have been reasonably consistent producers, (Nag too, but we don't talk about Nag around here) especially in the deeper protected bays. Any green weeds indicate a high percentage area. Most fish continue to be caught on a flourocarbon spinner leader with a red treble. The best bait has been shiners or suckers, but it often just depends on who you are asking. As we get further on, deadbait will get better and better. My rule of thumb has always been Superbowl weekend...live bait before, dead bait after.

The panfish bite has slowed down, but I think that has more to do with angler location than a drop off in the bite. By this point in the winter, the best panfish have moved out to suspend over deeper water. Crappie will tend to suspend high in the water column, bluegills lower. You may catch some off the bottom, but the solid parts of schools will be just over half way down. Drill a series of holes when you first set up, then go back with your electronics/flashers and see if you mark any suspended fish. If you do, set up and fish just above them, you won't believe some of the fish you catch. Where to look for them? Think summer structure: points, rockpiles, humps and dropoffs in 15-25 feet of water. The closer to the mainlake, the better. Forest, Golden, Lower and Upper Genessee, Kessus, Emily and Fox have been the best, but just about every local lake has had some action.

Walleye fishing has been slow, but steady. Look for fish in water 8-12 or 15-22 feet deep. Its quite a range, but spread your tip-ups out until you find fish, then concentrate on that area/depth. Pine and Lac Labelle are both giving up fish, but the hot bite is still on that most magic of inaccessible lakes...North.

Good luck and be safe.
CT

Look mom, I'm in the newspaper again.

Missed this initally, but Paul Smith of the Journal Sentinel reused a picture of me in an article which ran in the Journal-Sentinel from a fishing trip this past year.

The 1-14-15 Article and Picture are at this link.

The original article from this past summer is here.

Ice fishing is fun...catching smallies on topwaters in the summertime is better.

Cheers,
CT

Fishing Report 1-15-15

It seems like the big fish bite is picking up. I don't know if that's actually true, the weather has meant more people on the ice, or some combination of both.

But either way, IT IS ON.








As always: My standard disclaimer about being careful on the ice: buddy system, pfd and spud bar. Be vary over deep water, especially places that get lots of wind or areas with strong current. That said, lots of people are driving on the ice at this point. The cold snap really helped.



As for the fishing...panfish are still being taken in shallow water, but the better sized fish are starting to come from out deeper. Anglers who have ventured out and searched for deeper water schools are catching nice bags of fish. Electronics will certainly help with catching the fish, as will the ability to be mobile. Wigglers seem to be the hot bait, but fish are being taken on waxies, mousies and plastics. Okauchee, Forest, Garvin, Kessus, Fowler, Middle and Lower Genessee, Golden, Silver and School Section have all been solid bets for Panfish.

Walleye fishing has picked up a bit, but as is common with our walleye lakes, there's some undersized fish mixed in. Jigging is taking a few fish, but tip-ups with a floro or mono leader, spinner and red treble baited with a golden shiner or small sucker is producing. Shallow rocks in 6-10 feet are producing during low light hours, deep water structure in 18-25 feet is producing during the day time. Labelle and Fox are providing some steady action but deep water on the Rock River, Pine, North and Oconomowoc are giving up keepers.

Northern pike fishing has been pretty solid and steady. Lots of guys are picking up fish, with more than a handful of snakes in the 15-25 inch category. Deadbait, shiners and suckers have all been good the last few days, since the worst of the cold moved out. With a nice weekend ahead, and some warmer weather behind it..watch for fish to start to make a move in the next 2 weeks, but for now, shallow weedy areas near where people are getting panfish is a great place to setup a spread of tip ups. Icehouse, Stumpy Bay and the Crane's Nest areas on Okauchee have been active, as has Emily, Fowler, Lac Labelle, Garvin, Kessus and Golden.


Good Luck. Be Safe...and hit a Fishoree this weekend.

Cheers,
CT