Just some of that shameless self promotion.
I have a handful of open dates the week of July 28.
I would like to fill them. I'll offer a special rate to do so. Contact me for more information.
Cough Cough $50 off Cough Cough
Cheers,
CT
Friday, July 18, 2014
DNR Fisheries Plan-Lake Michigan
Paul Smith of the Journal-Sentinel has an article up on JSonline that's worth a read, especially if you like to fish Lake Michigan. The DNR has released a draft of its proposed fisheries plan.
The article is here at jsonline.com
The draft of the DNR plan is available here.
Notably: there will be four public sessions on the plan:
The article is here at jsonline.com
The draft of the DNR plan is available here.
Notably: there will be four public sessions on the plan:
The DNR will host four public meetings to provide information, answer questions and take comments. All meetings are scheduled to run from 6 to 8 p.m.
The meetings are scheduled:
■ Aug. 4, Wisconsin DNR Green Bay Service Center, 2984 Shawano Ave., Green Bay.
■ Aug. 5, Lakeshore Technical College, 1290 North Ave., Cleveland.
■ Aug. 7, UW-Milwaukee GLRF-SFS, 600 E. Greenfield Ave., Milwaukee.
■ Aug. 7, Wisconsin DNR Peshtigo Service Center, 101 N. Ogden Road, Peshtigo.
Alternatively, comments can be sent by email to dnrlakemichiganplan@wisconsin.gov or by mail to Bradley T. Eggold, Department of Natural Resources, UWM-GLRF-SFS, 600 E. Greenfield Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53204.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Fishing Report 7-17-14
The cooler weather has slowed the fishing, but it is still very, very good for this time of year. Being precise with presentations, and paying attention to the details is helping to pattern fish, which leads to better fishing.
Anglers are catching a mixed bag of largemouths. Deep weedlines in 12-18 FOW, piers-especially with rock or sand underneath, slop and shallow bars near deep water are all holding fish. Texas rigs, slow rolled, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are catching the deeper fish. Wacky, jigworms, pre-rigged worms and small crankbaits are catching fish out of the shallow water. A few nice fish have come out of the smaller lakes flipping (rather than topwater fishing) the slop. Personally, I continue to catch a nice batch of fish on flappers, jigworms, tubes and wacky worms fished around mid-depth weed clumps in 4-8 FOW.
Smallmouth fishing has been slow and steady this season with many smallmouth suspending just off the structure in the deeper water. By mid-morning, expect to start seeing wolfpack groups foraging in the shallow rocks, or rock/sand transition areas. Right now, fish just a bit deeper than normal, using tubes, wacky and jigworms. If the bite is tough, downsize a bit. A wacky rig with a french fry in place of a senko style bait can be just the magic you need at this point in the season. Floating rapalas, zara spooks and pop-r's are catching some topwater fish.
Musky fishing has been on fire since the weather cooled off. Trolling deep with big cranks and jerkbaits has been the primary pattern, but a few fish are being taken on topwaters, again early and late in the day. Gliders fished fast along turns in the deep weedlines has also been productive.
Walleye fishing has remained slow. Slip bobbers, with leeches, fished over weeds is usually a pretty good daytime presentation this time of year,. At night, back troll with suckers on lindy/slip sinker rigs in 18-22 fow, targeting areas with healthy sandgrass.
Bluegills are doing their summer thing. Look for them to suspend along the weedlines or out over deeper water. 12-18 feet deep over much deeper water is a great starting point. Drifting along the deep edges with bait suspended vertically is a solid presentation option.
-----
Okauchee: If you're going out, bass are on the piers, in the slop and on the weed edges in 8-12 feet. Musky are feeding in the shallows in the morning, and then moving out to 18-22 feet. Pike have been very active, especially in deep areas with quick access to shallow weeds.
Garvin: Great spot for panfish. Look for the sunken wood in 10-15 feet. Bass are using the shallow flat on the south end and the weedline turns. Pike have come off 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: Bass are holding on the obvious structural breaks and suspending off the deep ends of the mainlake points. Largemouths are still more active than smallmouth. Northern pike has been better than average for anglers with small suckers catching the majority of the fish. Musky fishing was picking up, but lots of fish are still doing lazy follows, and lots of people are reporting that they are seeing fish over the tops of weeds 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 was steady, but a little slow on weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks and drop-offs in 10-18 FOW.
Moose: Bass and pike continue to bite, and action has been good. 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.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been good. Best bet on Ashipunn is to concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles with spinners or plastics. Panfish are suspending in the deep part of the basin, about 18-22 foot down.
Golden: Bluegills are in deep water, suspending over the deep part of the basin, but holding close to weed edges and the major structure. Typically, bass have been biting best on deeper weedlines but docks and the slop are both holding some fish. 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: Crappies have been suspending over the east cribs, and keeper bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 18-25 FOW.
Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially dillys or leafworms or slip bobbering with plastics tipped with waxworms or spikes has been very good for panfish. Night fishing is in full steam on Middle.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Good Luck Out There,
CT
Anglers are catching a mixed bag of largemouths. Deep weedlines in 12-18 FOW, piers-especially with rock or sand underneath, slop and shallow bars near deep water are all holding fish. Texas rigs, slow rolled, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are catching the deeper fish. Wacky, jigworms, pre-rigged worms and small crankbaits are catching fish out of the shallow water. A few nice fish have come out of the smaller lakes flipping (rather than topwater fishing) the slop. Personally, I continue to catch a nice batch of fish on flappers, jigworms, tubes and wacky worms fished around mid-depth weed clumps in 4-8 FOW.
Smallmouth fishing has been slow and steady this season with many smallmouth suspending just off the structure in the deeper water. By mid-morning, expect to start seeing wolfpack groups foraging in the shallow rocks, or rock/sand transition areas. Right now, fish just a bit deeper than normal, using tubes, wacky and jigworms. If the bite is tough, downsize a bit. A wacky rig with a french fry in place of a senko style bait can be just the magic you need at this point in the season. Floating rapalas, zara spooks and pop-r's are catching some topwater fish.
Musky fishing has been on fire since the weather cooled off. Trolling deep with big cranks and jerkbaits has been the primary pattern, but a few fish are being taken on topwaters, again early and late in the day. Gliders fished fast along turns in the deep weedlines has also been productive.
Walleye fishing has remained slow. Slip bobbers, with leeches, fished over weeds is usually a pretty good daytime presentation this time of year,. At night, back troll with suckers on lindy/slip sinker rigs in 18-22 fow, targeting areas with healthy sandgrass.
Bluegills are doing their summer thing. Look for them to suspend along the weedlines or out over deeper water. 12-18 feet deep over much deeper water is a great starting point. Drifting along the deep edges with bait suspended vertically is a solid presentation option.
-----
Okauchee: If you're going out, bass are on the piers, in the slop and on the weed edges in 8-12 feet. Musky are feeding in the shallows in the morning, and then moving out to 18-22 feet. Pike have been very active, especially in deep areas with quick access to shallow weeds.
Garvin: Great spot for panfish. Look for the sunken wood in 10-15 feet. Bass are using the shallow flat on the south end and the weedline turns. Pike have come off 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: Bass are holding on the obvious structural breaks and suspending off the deep ends of the mainlake points. Largemouths are still more active than smallmouth. Northern pike has been better than average for anglers with small suckers catching the majority of the fish. Musky fishing was picking up, but lots of fish are still doing lazy follows, and lots of people are reporting that they are seeing fish over the tops of weeds 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 was steady, but a little slow on weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks and drop-offs in 10-18 FOW.
Moose: Bass and pike continue to bite, and action has been good. 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.
Ashipunn: Bass and pike have been good. Best bet on Ashipunn is to concentrate on the visible weed patches, and work them from a variety of angles with spinners or plastics. Panfish are suspending in the deep part of the basin, about 18-22 foot down.
Golden: Bluegills are in deep water, suspending over the deep part of the basin, but holding close to weed edges and the major structure. Typically, bass have been biting best on deeper weedlines but docks and the slop are both holding some fish. 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: Crappies have been suspending over the east cribs, and keeper bluegills are holding in the deep sandgrass in 18-25 FOW.
Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially dillys or leafworms or slip bobbering with plastics tipped with waxworms or spikes has been very good for panfish. Night fishing is in full steam on Middle.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Good Luck Out There,
CT
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Fishing Report 7-10-14
Well gang,
Fish are biting all day long, but the bite is better at low light/cooler sections of the days. The full moon cycle this weekend along with some stable conditions and moderate temperatures should make for some excellent fishing this weekend.
I'm catching bass on two major patterns. First off...docks. The docks have really turned on, and I'm catching some very nice fish with the bright sunshine days we've had recently. I haven't been working the slop much, but I'm sure it will be good, especially mid-morning to early afternoon during the hot part of the day. Skipping docks with wacky, skirted grubs or fishing adjacent to shadows with small, shallow running crankbaits is working...and working great. Remember, the shadows are the key to effectivce dock fishing. If you're fishing from shore, target slop that you can reach, or fish in moving water like a river or creek with skirted grubs or wacky rigged worms.
Otherwise, the edges of weeds, especially where that weed edge is close to a graded drop in 9-12 FOW (sloping drop rather than a steep break) has been holding a huge quantity of fish. Typically that means there is a baitfish hatch that has their attention, and not surprisingly I'm catching lots of fish on jigworms, flapper grubs and twister tails....working them through suspended water. Deep weedline fish can be caught in variety of ways, but drop shotting, slow rolling spinnerbaits, and deep diving crankbaits will also produce.
Panfish are pretty much done spawning. You may find a few stragglers, but the best keepers (both crappie and bluegills are out deep, suspending as far as 20 feet down over much deeper water (found a nice batch yesterday over 52 FOW). Drifting over schools you can spot on your electronics with slip bobbers seems to be working for people putting in the time, but as always, I'm a fan of tightlining vertically for suspended fish.
Walleye have been active during the ends of the days. 12-18 FOW seems to be clutch, but I'm still grabbing a few out to 25 FOW, especially out of the deep sandgrass. This weekend, floating rapalas (size 11 or 13) fished over weed clumps adjacent to dropoffs should get interesting.
Pike fishing has been slow but very steady. The photocycle tends to slow them down except for early and later in the day. Right now, target isolated weed clumps in 8-15 FOW or weed edges in 15-22 FOW for pike. Live bait (small sucker or large shiner on a slip sinker rig) is outproducing cranks, but never give up on a buzzbait, spinnerbait, spoon or lipless crankbait when chasing pike.
Musky fishing has been slow, but the full moon this weekend will certainly put people on the water. Look for fish on the weed edges (especially weed edges on long points) in 12-18 FOW. Double-bladed spinners seem to be hot right now, but such things happen when that's what everyone is throwing at a given time. A smaller jerkbait or glider is my personal recommendation.
Last note...a personal one. I believe I had the largest bass I have ever seen in Waukesha County on my line this week(and that's saying something). The fish got away from me while I was playing it, and once it was in deep water, I couldn't recover to get it in. I know it is the middle of summer, and although this is traditionally "the dog days"...the fish are biting, and biting very well. You just have to work a bit to get at them.
Forget golf...go fishing.
Good luck and be safe,
CT
Fish are biting all day long, but the bite is better at low light/cooler sections of the days. The full moon cycle this weekend along with some stable conditions and moderate temperatures should make for some excellent fishing this weekend.
I'm catching bass on two major patterns. First off...docks. The docks have really turned on, and I'm catching some very nice fish with the bright sunshine days we've had recently. I haven't been working the slop much, but I'm sure it will be good, especially mid-morning to early afternoon during the hot part of the day. Skipping docks with wacky, skirted grubs or fishing adjacent to shadows with small, shallow running crankbaits is working...and working great. Remember, the shadows are the key to effectivce dock fishing. If you're fishing from shore, target slop that you can reach, or fish in moving water like a river or creek with skirted grubs or wacky rigged worms.
Otherwise, the edges of weeds, especially where that weed edge is close to a graded drop in 9-12 FOW (sloping drop rather than a steep break) has been holding a huge quantity of fish. Typically that means there is a baitfish hatch that has their attention, and not surprisingly I'm catching lots of fish on jigworms, flapper grubs and twister tails....working them through suspended water. Deep weedline fish can be caught in variety of ways, but drop shotting, slow rolling spinnerbaits, and deep diving crankbaits will also produce.
Panfish are pretty much done spawning. You may find a few stragglers, but the best keepers (both crappie and bluegills are out deep, suspending as far as 20 feet down over much deeper water (found a nice batch yesterday over 52 FOW). Drifting over schools you can spot on your electronics with slip bobbers seems to be working for people putting in the time, but as always, I'm a fan of tightlining vertically for suspended fish.
Walleye have been active during the ends of the days. 12-18 FOW seems to be clutch, but I'm still grabbing a few out to 25 FOW, especially out of the deep sandgrass. This weekend, floating rapalas (size 11 or 13) fished over weed clumps adjacent to dropoffs should get interesting.
Pike fishing has been slow but very steady. The photocycle tends to slow them down except for early and later in the day. Right now, target isolated weed clumps in 8-15 FOW or weed edges in 15-22 FOW for pike. Live bait (small sucker or large shiner on a slip sinker rig) is outproducing cranks, but never give up on a buzzbait, spinnerbait, spoon or lipless crankbait when chasing pike.
Musky fishing has been slow, but the full moon this weekend will certainly put people on the water. Look for fish on the weed edges (especially weed edges on long points) in 12-18 FOW. Double-bladed spinners seem to be hot right now, but such things happen when that's what everyone is throwing at a given time. A smaller jerkbait or glider is my personal recommendation.
Last note...a personal one. I believe I had the largest bass I have ever seen in Waukesha County on my line this week(and that's saying something). The fish got away from me while I was playing it, and once it was in deep water, I couldn't recover to get it in. I know it is the middle of summer, and although this is traditionally "the dog days"...the fish are biting, and biting very well. You just have to work a bit to get at them.
Forget golf...go fishing.
Good luck and be safe,
CT
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Holiday Weekend Fishing Report (7-3-14)
Half way through summer...and things are happening on our area lakes. Most water temps are in the mid 70's. Weed growth and baitfish populations are at about average for this time of year.
Fishing has been very good, despite the unstable weather. Obviously the lakes will be busy with a three day holiday weekend, so plan on fishing early and late, but if you can stand the boat traffic, fishing has been steady all day all the last three weeks.
If you're a newbie or casual fisherman....keep it simple this weekend. Get some leeches or small suckers and fish them on a slip sinker or lindy rig. Just keep the line tight and put your boat around the deep edges of some visible weeds. You will catch fish.
If you're looking to cast some lures...try a lipless crankbait. Just cast it at any weeds you see, and reel it in as fast as you can.
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. The better sized fish are being caught out of the deeper water (12-18 FOW) by anglers drifting and fishing vertically. 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 continue to run 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, jigworms, jig and chunks, skirted grubs and tubes. Piers are holding fish and the slop has been pretty good. If you just want to catch fish, keep it simple...leeches on lindy or slip sinker rigs on the deep weed edge is an easy way to put some fish in the boat on just about any area lake.
Smallmouth bass fishing was fairly inconsistent this past week. 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, 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 very slow with the unstable weather. Anglers putting in time are catching a few fish. 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 early and late in the day. Most fish are being caught along weededges in 12-18 FOW, but I've been catching them as deep as 25'
Pike fishing has been a little below average with lots 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 inline spinners, 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.
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 and lots of lazy follows, so keep a sucker out. 12-15 FOW seems to be the magic depth over the past couple of weeks.
Lake By Lake:
Okauchee: Bass are on the piers, in the slop and on the weed edges in 8-12 feet. Musky are feeding in the shallows in the morning, and then moving out to 18-22 feet. Nothing substantial to report on panfish, but look for keepers suspended over deeper water and on the deep ends of the mainlake points.
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 on the south end. 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: 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. No word on musky.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is moving toward its typical summer pace. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks are holding fish as are drop-offs in 10-18 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. 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.
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. Slip sinker rigs with leeches fished tight to the weed edge worked for me with one of my kids today.
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. Bass have been biting best in the morning, but a deeper weedline bite has been picking up. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished over the submerged weeds.
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.
Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water with sandgrass, and largemouths are being caught around shallow to mid depth weeds. No word on trout on Lower, but news of the trout fishing has been fairly limited. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially leafworms or big reds has been very good for both bass and panfish. Night fishing is really picking up on Middle, especially along the deep points and drop offs.
Pine: Walleye, Pike, Largemouth and Smallmouth are being caught off the rocks early in the day, and off the weedlines in the mid-day and evenings. Slip sinkers with live bait will produce, but don't overlook crankbaits or slow rolled spinnerbaits for suspending fish.
School Section: Bass and pike are biting, but most of the fish have been small. Look for the deep spots, and work them hard with plastics or live bait.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Good Luck, and stay safe this weekend.
Cheers,
CT
Fishing has been very good, despite the unstable weather. Obviously the lakes will be busy with a three day holiday weekend, so plan on fishing early and late, but if you can stand the boat traffic, fishing has been steady all day all the last three weeks.
If you're a newbie or casual fisherman....keep it simple this weekend. Get some leeches or small suckers and fish them on a slip sinker or lindy rig. Just keep the line tight and put your boat around the deep edges of some visible weeds. You will catch fish.
If you're looking to cast some lures...try a lipless crankbait. Just cast it at any weeds you see, and reel it in as fast as you can.
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. The better sized fish are being caught out of the deeper water (12-18 FOW) by anglers drifting and fishing vertically. 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 continue to run 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, jigworms, jig and chunks, skirted grubs and tubes. Piers are holding fish and the slop has been pretty good. If you just want to catch fish, keep it simple...leeches on lindy or slip sinker rigs on the deep weed edge is an easy way to put some fish in the boat on just about any area lake.
Smallmouth bass fishing was fairly inconsistent this past week. 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, 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 very slow with the unstable weather. Anglers putting in time are catching a few fish. 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 early and late in the day. Most fish are being caught along weededges in 12-18 FOW, but I've been catching them as deep as 25'
Pike fishing has been a little below average with lots 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 inline spinners, 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.
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 and lots of lazy follows, so keep a sucker out. 12-15 FOW seems to be the magic depth over the past couple of weeks.
Lake By Lake:
Okauchee: Bass are on the piers, in the slop and on the weed edges in 8-12 feet. Musky are feeding in the shallows in the morning, and then moving out to 18-22 feet. Nothing substantial to report on panfish, but look for keepers suspended over deeper water and on the deep ends of the mainlake points.
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 on the south end. 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: 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. No word on musky.
Lac Labelle: Walleye fishing is moving toward its typical summer pace. Weed edges along the 8-12 foot breaks are holding fish as are drop-offs in 10-18 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. 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.
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. Slip sinker rigs with leeches fished tight to the weed edge worked for me with one of my kids today.
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. Bass have been biting best in the morning, but a deeper weedline bite has been picking up. Topwaters, plastics and spinners are all producing. Pike have been biting, especially on small suckers fished along the deep weedlines and on spinnerbaits fished over the submerged weeds.
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.
Lower and Middle Genessee: Panfish have moved to the deeper water with sandgrass, and largemouths are being caught around shallow to mid depth weeds. No word on trout on Lower, but news of the trout fishing has been fairly limited. Lindy rigging with live bait, especially leafworms or big reds has been very good for both bass and panfish. Night fishing is really picking up on Middle, especially along the deep points and drop offs.
Pine: Walleye, Pike, Largemouth and Smallmouth are being caught off the rocks early in the day, and off the weedlines in the mid-day and evenings. Slip sinkers with live bait will produce, but don't overlook crankbaits or slow rolled spinnerbaits for suspending fish.
School Section: Bass and pike are biting, but most of the fish have been small. Look for the deep spots, and work them hard with plastics or live bait.
If you've got specific questions: Feel free to email me.
Good Luck, and stay safe this weekend.
Cheers,
CT
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Fishing Report 6-28-14 (Quickie update edition)
I was out a bunch this week.
A couple of things of note...
1.) Baitfish are back. This spring presented a difficult situation with baitfish, but that problem seems to have worked itself out with some fairly large hatches recently. I've seen everything from pin minnows, to wild shiners, to juvenile panfish and perch this past week. Bait had been harder to come by this season, but not anymore.
2.) Weeds are up. The weeds had a slow start after the tough winter, but growth is rolling now. Big patches of everything...especially milfoil are up and growing.
3.) Panfish are still spawning...but they are almost done. Crappie are out on the weed edges and suspending over deeper structure. Shallow bluegill beds have been pilfered, but there's still plenty of fish out deep...and some bigger schools are starting to suspend.
4.) Smallmouth fishing was tough this week, but the largemouth bite was on fire. Fish are still roaming the flats, but they are also starting to setup in deeper water.
5.) The best bite has been from about 7am-10am.
Talk to you next week.
Cheers,
CT
A couple of things of note...
1.) Baitfish are back. This spring presented a difficult situation with baitfish, but that problem seems to have worked itself out with some fairly large hatches recently. I've seen everything from pin minnows, to wild shiners, to juvenile panfish and perch this past week. Bait had been harder to come by this season, but not anymore.
2.) Weeds are up. The weeds had a slow start after the tough winter, but growth is rolling now. Big patches of everything...especially milfoil are up and growing.
3.) Panfish are still spawning...but they are almost done. Crappie are out on the weed edges and suspending over deeper structure. Shallow bluegill beds have been pilfered, but there's still plenty of fish out deep...and some bigger schools are starting to suspend.
4.) Smallmouth fishing was tough this week, but the largemouth bite was on fire. Fish are still roaming the flats, but they are also starting to setup in deeper water.
5.) The best bite has been from about 7am-10am.
Talk to you next week.
Cheers,
CT
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Fishing Report 6-24-14
I've been out a bunch, and here's the latest.
Panfish are still spawning on many (most lakes) but most people are fishing way too shallow for the keepers. I'm catching some monster sized pannies out of 12-18 FOW, especially out of the sand. Panfish leeches and big redworms have been great presentations.
LM bass are starting to move out deep, but are also starting to use docks, pontoons and slop. Early morning the bite has been a little tough, but the mid morning bite has been red hot. Wacky, jig and chunk, flapper grubs and skirted grubs up shallow....jigworms, dropshot and cranks are working out deep. Catching a bunch of fish pulling lindys with live bait along outside weed edges as well.
SM have really turned on. Morning has been best as fish come up onto shallow areas to feed, but you can get at them in deeper water with texas or carolina rigs and with a dropshot or tube bait. Deep gravel has been on fire the last batch of days.
Walleye have been on fire, but you have to be ready to adjust to them...not just day to day, but hour to hour. Fish have been moving in and out of the shallow weeds and I'm catching them as shallow as 6 FOW and as deep as 23. Slow trolling/drifting with lindy rigs has been a great way to find fish, and then jigging with large/jumbo leeches once you're set up on area. Fish have been tight to weeds, but on the deep edges.
Pike have been slow but steady. Typical action for this time of year...shallow weeds holding smaller fish that can be taken by casting lipless crankbaits, buzz baits or spinner baits. Out deep, live bait (small suckers or large/jumbo shiners) on slip sinker rigs have been better for the bigger fish.
Talk to you Friday.
Cheers.
CT
Panfish are still spawning on many (most lakes) but most people are fishing way too shallow for the keepers. I'm catching some monster sized pannies out of 12-18 FOW, especially out of the sand. Panfish leeches and big redworms have been great presentations.
LM bass are starting to move out deep, but are also starting to use docks, pontoons and slop. Early morning the bite has been a little tough, but the mid morning bite has been red hot. Wacky, jig and chunk, flapper grubs and skirted grubs up shallow....jigworms, dropshot and cranks are working out deep. Catching a bunch of fish pulling lindys with live bait along outside weed edges as well.
SM have really turned on. Morning has been best as fish come up onto shallow areas to feed, but you can get at them in deeper water with texas or carolina rigs and with a dropshot or tube bait. Deep gravel has been on fire the last batch of days.
Walleye have been on fire, but you have to be ready to adjust to them...not just day to day, but hour to hour. Fish have been moving in and out of the shallow weeds and I'm catching them as shallow as 6 FOW and as deep as 23. Slow trolling/drifting with lindy rigs has been a great way to find fish, and then jigging with large/jumbo leeches once you're set up on area. Fish have been tight to weeds, but on the deep edges.
Pike have been slow but steady. Typical action for this time of year...shallow weeds holding smaller fish that can be taken by casting lipless crankbaits, buzz baits or spinner baits. Out deep, live bait (small suckers or large/jumbo shiners) on slip sinker rigs have been better for the bigger fish.
Talk to you Friday.
Cheers.
CT
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Fishing Report 6-12-14
Heading out for Father's Day weekend? It should be good. Water temps range from the high 60's to mid 70's around the area. The water has cleared up substantially, and weed growth is about normal (finally).
Okauchee has a pair of club bass tournaments this weekend. Pewaukee has a Take a Vet fishing and a WABTA event on Saturday. (Might be a weekend to stay off the larger lakes.)
Around the Area:
Bluegills are still spawning for the most part, and the better panfish are being caught out of the deeper sand. Look for them shallow, but if you want some better sized keepers, find sand/gravel areas in 8-15 feet, and fish for them vertically with light lindy or split shot rigs baited with panfish leeches. (Middle Genessee, Nagawicka, Pine, North, Golden and Silver have been solid producers.)
Bass are settling into their summer patterns, anglers are catching fish both out of both shallow (2-6 FOW) and deep water (10-15 FOW). Docks, rockbars, slop, scattered weeds on flats and the deep weedlines all have active fish. Largemouth have been active on most area lakes on weed edges in 6-12 feet of water. Piers have been very good during the brightest parts of the day, and the slop bite is picking up as the weeds fill in. The topwater bit has been good, but most topwater fish are being caught before 8am over flat areas adjacent to deep water, especially areas with small patches of weeds. Pop-R's with an orange or red belly have been producing some nice schooling fish, and grubs, jigworms, jig/chunk combos and wacky worms are all producing shallow...texas rigs and drop shots are turning on deep. (School Section, Golden Nagawicka, Lower Nashotah, Okauchee, Fowler and Pewaukee)
Musky fishing has been very inconsistent. Struggling to find them in shallow water, many anglers have started looking for them in deeper water. The most active fish have come on deep divers and tubes fished along the deepest weedlines you can find. 15- 18 FOW seems to be the spot to be this year, but lots of bass anglers working inside edges are catching skis "by accident." (Pewaukee has been the most consistent. Oconomowoc and Okauchee have been slower. No word on Fowler or Lac Labelle)
Walleye action has been about average with the bite fluctuating day to day with the weather shifts. Jigging and rigging along the 8-12 FOW weedges has been working when the fish are active. Leeches under slip bobbers are catching fish in 8-15 feet, especially around weed/rock transition areas. Suckers fished on a split shot rig have been taking some better fish, especially in the late evenings. Weededges and sand grass are the areas to key on, especially in 10-15 feet of water. (Lac Labelle has been hit or miss, Oconomowoc and Nagawicka have been average, North and Pine have been very active, especially in the evenings.)
Pike action has been slow and steady. Fish the weed flats and outside edges with spinners or live bait. Smaller, wide wobbling crankbaits, buzzbaits and lipless crankbaits are really producing for the action seekers. Reapers and large jerkbaits are catching some better fish, but the action has been very slow. (Kessus, Nagawicka, Lower Nashotah and Okauchee)
Happy Father's Day
CT
Okauchee has a pair of club bass tournaments this weekend. Pewaukee has a Take a Vet fishing and a WABTA event on Saturday. (Might be a weekend to stay off the larger lakes.)
Around the Area:
Bluegills are still spawning for the most part, and the better panfish are being caught out of the deeper sand. Look for them shallow, but if you want some better sized keepers, find sand/gravel areas in 8-15 feet, and fish for them vertically with light lindy or split shot rigs baited with panfish leeches. (Middle Genessee, Nagawicka, Pine, North, Golden and Silver have been solid producers.)
Bass are settling into their summer patterns, anglers are catching fish both out of both shallow (2-6 FOW) and deep water (10-15 FOW). Docks, rockbars, slop, scattered weeds on flats and the deep weedlines all have active fish. Largemouth have been active on most area lakes on weed edges in 6-12 feet of water. Piers have been very good during the brightest parts of the day, and the slop bite is picking up as the weeds fill in. The topwater bit has been good, but most topwater fish are being caught before 8am over flat areas adjacent to deep water, especially areas with small patches of weeds. Pop-R's with an orange or red belly have been producing some nice schooling fish, and grubs, jigworms, jig/chunk combos and wacky worms are all producing shallow...texas rigs and drop shots are turning on deep. (School Section, Golden Nagawicka, Lower Nashotah, Okauchee, Fowler and Pewaukee)
Musky fishing has been very inconsistent. Struggling to find them in shallow water, many anglers have started looking for them in deeper water. The most active fish have come on deep divers and tubes fished along the deepest weedlines you can find. 15- 18 FOW seems to be the spot to be this year, but lots of bass anglers working inside edges are catching skis "by accident." (Pewaukee has been the most consistent. Oconomowoc and Okauchee have been slower. No word on Fowler or Lac Labelle)
Walleye action has been about average with the bite fluctuating day to day with the weather shifts. Jigging and rigging along the 8-12 FOW weedges has been working when the fish are active. Leeches under slip bobbers are catching fish in 8-15 feet, especially around weed/rock transition areas. Suckers fished on a split shot rig have been taking some better fish, especially in the late evenings. Weededges and sand grass are the areas to key on, especially in 10-15 feet of water. (Lac Labelle has been hit or miss, Oconomowoc and Nagawicka have been average, North and Pine have been very active, especially in the evenings.)
Pike action has been slow and steady. Fish the weed flats and outside edges with spinners or live bait. Smaller, wide wobbling crankbaits, buzzbaits and lipless crankbaits are really producing for the action seekers. Reapers and large jerkbaits are catching some better fish, but the action has been very slow. (Kessus, Nagawicka, Lower Nashotah and Okauchee)
Happy Father's Day
CT
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Take a Vet Fishing Event in Madison
Another great year on the water for this awesome event. I can't say enough good things about Take a Vet Fishing. Everything was handled great...boat launching, boat landing, the after events...just very well done. 80 boats in and out with minimal drama at Babock.
I had a Vet -Dan and a Reporter -Dennis. Fished 6:30-11:30.
As for the fishing...went out to the same spot as last year, and again drifted with plastics...caught a mixed bag of about 20 Largemouths and a couple of crappies. Had about 5 bite-offs from toothy critters. Caught at least one fish one all but one drift.
I had a Vet -Dan and a Reporter -Dennis. Fished 6:30-11:30.
As for the fishing...went out to the same spot as last year, and again drifted with plastics...caught a mixed bag of about 20 Largemouths and a couple of crappies. Had about 5 bite-offs from toothy critters. Caught at least one fish one all but one drift.
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| Dennis |
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| Dan |
Friday, June 6, 2014
Fishing Report 6-6-14
This weekend is Free Fishing Weekend. You can fish without a license, which makes it a great time to take new people out.
Conditions: Right now most lakes are in the low to mid 70's. Weed growth is still behind, but is picking up, especially the milfoil. Water remains high on most lakes, and is fairly stained for this time of year.
Bluegills are on their beds. Current areas and spawning areas (like sandy or gravel areas) will hold the most fish. Smaller gills spawn up shallow, but if you're looking for nice gills, try 8-12 feet of water. Leeches on a split short rig are the best way to chase these larger pannies, but Waxworms, redworms and plastics are taking fish. (Try Okauchee, Garvin, Golden Nagawicka, Forest, Middle Genessee, Ashipunn, Pretty and Lower Nashotah)
Crappie fishing has been hit or miss. People are catching some nice crappies, but consistent numbers have been hard to produce. A few crappies are being caught over deeper water near mainlake structure, and you may still find a few spawning crappies are in shallow bays near weeds, wood laydowns or reeds. Minnows, hooked through the tail on a small hook (#8 or #10), waxworms and plastics have all been taking fish. (Try: Okauchee (Red Hot), Garvin, Moose, Kessus, Nagawicka, Golden and Pine.)
Largemouth Bass are in the full-on post spawn period. A few fish are still spawning, but not many. Topwaters (Pop R, Redfins and #11 Floating Rapalas) and crankbaits (Norman Baby N's, wiggle warts and rattletraps) are catching fish over open water areas, especially weed patches on the mid-depth flats in 6-12 feet of water. On the sunny afternoons, the fish have been tighter to cover in 3-8 feet of water and fishing around the docks and in the slop has been picking up. Plastics: Texas rigged lizards, tube jigs skirted grubs, and wacky worms are all catching fish, as always, if the bite is tough, try a jigworm. Live bait on slip sinker rigs are catching a few fish for anglers making solid drifts over productive areas. (Try: Okauchee, Oconomowoc, Pine, Kessus, Nagawicka, Moose, School Section, Pretty, Golden or Emily)
Smallmouth Bass fishing was still slow as fish finish their post-spawn pattern. Minnowbaits, like size 11 or 13 floating rapalas are actually a great way to catch these fish. Keep it simple, black and silver or chartruese and white are the best. If it warms up this weekend and the early part of next week, look for them on sand/rock transition areas and target them with tubes, skirted grubs or twister tail grubs. (Try: Oconomowoc, Pine, Lac Labelle, Nagawicka, Pewaukee, Beaver or the Bark and Oconomwoc Rivers.)
Walleye fishing went south with the weather this week. Fish are still using shallow weeds and weed edges in 6-12 feet. Slip Bobbers, jigging with live bait or drifting with lindy rigs have been productive, especially when using small suckers or leeches for bait. In the evening, a few anglers are still catching fish by working rapala minnow baits over isolated weed clumps on mainlake points and humps, but this bite also dropped off with the weather changes this past week. (Try: Oconomowoc, Lac Labelle, Nagawicka, North, Pine and Fox)
Northern Pike fishing was slow, but steady. The best way to catch pike is a small sucker or medium to large shiner on a slip sinker rig with a flourocarbon leader. Drift along the deeper edges of the weeds you can find in 12-18 feet Up shallow- Lipless crankbaits, buzzbaits and spinner baits are still producing. (Try: Okauchee, Kessus, Garvin, Nagawicka, Pine, Moose, Fowler, Golden, School Section, Emily)
Musky fishing has been slow. Anglers continue to report lots of lazy follows, so figure eights are an absolute necessity, and having a sucker out on a quick strike rig is always a good idea. (Try: Okauchee, North, Pewaukee, Fowler and Lac Labelle)
Around the area: Fishing on the Rock River, anglers are still catching some whitebass, walleyes and catfish between the Jefferson Dam in and the mouth at the Indianford Dam.
Trout fishing in the stocked lakes and ponds continues to be a great way to catch some keepers. The local ponds, Lower Genessee, Ottawa and Lower Nashotah continue to give up fish.
Conditions: Right now most lakes are in the low to mid 70's. Weed growth is still behind, but is picking up, especially the milfoil. Water remains high on most lakes, and is fairly stained for this time of year.
Bluegills are on their beds. Current areas and spawning areas (like sandy or gravel areas) will hold the most fish. Smaller gills spawn up shallow, but if you're looking for nice gills, try 8-12 feet of water. Leeches on a split short rig are the best way to chase these larger pannies, but Waxworms, redworms and plastics are taking fish. (Try Okauchee, Garvin, Golden Nagawicka, Forest, Middle Genessee, Ashipunn, Pretty and Lower Nashotah)
Crappie fishing has been hit or miss. People are catching some nice crappies, but consistent numbers have been hard to produce. A few crappies are being caught over deeper water near mainlake structure, and you may still find a few spawning crappies are in shallow bays near weeds, wood laydowns or reeds. Minnows, hooked through the tail on a small hook (#8 or #10), waxworms and plastics have all been taking fish. (Try: Okauchee (Red Hot), Garvin, Moose, Kessus, Nagawicka, Golden and Pine.)
Largemouth Bass are in the full-on post spawn period. A few fish are still spawning, but not many. Topwaters (Pop R, Redfins and #11 Floating Rapalas) and crankbaits (Norman Baby N's, wiggle warts and rattletraps) are catching fish over open water areas, especially weed patches on the mid-depth flats in 6-12 feet of water. On the sunny afternoons, the fish have been tighter to cover in 3-8 feet of water and fishing around the docks and in the slop has been picking up. Plastics: Texas rigged lizards, tube jigs skirted grubs, and wacky worms are all catching fish, as always, if the bite is tough, try a jigworm. Live bait on slip sinker rigs are catching a few fish for anglers making solid drifts over productive areas. (Try: Okauchee, Oconomowoc, Pine, Kessus, Nagawicka, Moose, School Section, Pretty, Golden or Emily)
Smallmouth Bass fishing was still slow as fish finish their post-spawn pattern. Minnowbaits, like size 11 or 13 floating rapalas are actually a great way to catch these fish. Keep it simple, black and silver or chartruese and white are the best. If it warms up this weekend and the early part of next week, look for them on sand/rock transition areas and target them with tubes, skirted grubs or twister tail grubs. (Try: Oconomowoc, Pine, Lac Labelle, Nagawicka, Pewaukee, Beaver or the Bark and Oconomwoc Rivers.)
Walleye fishing went south with the weather this week. Fish are still using shallow weeds and weed edges in 6-12 feet. Slip Bobbers, jigging with live bait or drifting with lindy rigs have been productive, especially when using small suckers or leeches for bait. In the evening, a few anglers are still catching fish by working rapala minnow baits over isolated weed clumps on mainlake points and humps, but this bite also dropped off with the weather changes this past week. (Try: Oconomowoc, Lac Labelle, Nagawicka, North, Pine and Fox)
Northern Pike fishing was slow, but steady. The best way to catch pike is a small sucker or medium to large shiner on a slip sinker rig with a flourocarbon leader. Drift along the deeper edges of the weeds you can find in 12-18 feet Up shallow- Lipless crankbaits, buzzbaits and spinner baits are still producing. (Try: Okauchee, Kessus, Garvin, Nagawicka, Pine, Moose, Fowler, Golden, School Section, Emily)
Musky fishing has been slow. Anglers continue to report lots of lazy follows, so figure eights are an absolute necessity, and having a sucker out on a quick strike rig is always a good idea. (Try: Okauchee, North, Pewaukee, Fowler and Lac Labelle)
Around the area: Fishing on the Rock River, anglers are still catching some whitebass, walleyes and catfish between the Jefferson Dam in and the mouth at the Indianford Dam.
Trout fishing in the stocked lakes and ponds continues to be a great way to catch some keepers. The local ponds, Lower Genessee, Ottawa and Lower Nashotah continue to give up fish.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
June 1st WABTA Results-Okauchee Lake
Results are posted from Sunday's WABTA bass tournament on Okauchee.
Not surprising...post spawn conditions led to some smaller bags than the tournament a couple weeks ago.
From WABTA.ORG
Not surprising...post spawn conditions led to some smaller bags than the tournament a couple weeks ago.
From WABTA.ORG
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
North Lake Boat Launch Informational Meeting-June 24th
There's been some movement on a public launch for North Lake.
The meeting is Tuesday, June 24th at 7pm at the Merton Town Hall.
The story from the Lake Country Reporter: is here.
"The application calls for a 25-stall gravel lot of mixed-use parking to be built off of Highway 83 near the downtown business district for unincorporated North Lake."
The meeting is Tuesday, June 24th at 7pm at the Merton Town Hall.
The story from the Lake Country Reporter: is here.
Early Season Special
I have some dates I'd like to fill in the next couple of weeks and I can offer a special rate ($50 off my half day/$100 off my full day) my usual fee to do so.
We can fish for bass, walleye and or musky on a variety of local lakes. I have weekday availability during the weeks of the 9th, 16th and 23rd, and I have weekend options on the 15th, 21st and 22nd.
Email Me or call (262)-893-2183. Let's go catch some fish...
We can fish for bass, walleye and or musky on a variety of local lakes. I have weekday availability during the weeks of the 9th, 16th and 23rd, and I have weekend options on the 15th, 21st and 22nd.
Email Me or call (262)-893-2183. Let's go catch some fish...
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| Allen had a good time last week! |
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Journal Sentinel Article - Lac Labelle
I was out with Paul Smith on Lac Labelle a couple weeks ago...but the article about our outing is now posted.
Check out the whole article at the Journal-Sentinel Outdoors Page.
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| Landing a Labelle Walleye-From JSONLINE.Com |
Check out the whole article at the Journal-Sentinel Outdoors Page.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Fishing Report 5-29-14
Okauchee has a WABTA bass
tournament on Sunday.
Panfish, especially bluegills were already spawning on many local lakes. Some fish were starting to make nests in the shallow sand. Look for active fish along the inside edges of weedlines at the end of points, a key staging area for panfish before the spawn. Some crappies can be caught off deeper fish attractors/brushpiles...but fishing vertically, tightlining tail hooked crappies minnows is probably your best approach. I heard some decent crappies were coming from Ashippun, Kessus and Pine, but I have not verified this.
Largemouth bass are more or less done with their spawning activity. Lots of fish are still schooled up and chasing bait on the shallow to mid depth weed flats with scattered cover. Baitfish remains the key factor on fish location so presentations made slow and very tight to cover (like flipping or texas rigs for example) willcatch fish. If the wind is laying down, one of my better tricks for these conditions is to twitch a size 11 floating rapala minnow, pop-r or pop-x around shallow structure/cover. This is also prime time for live bait presentations, especially larger shiners or small suckers on a slip sinker rig.
Smallmouth were finishing up the spawning ritual. Likely will be a tough bite until conditions stabilize a little, but when the bite is tough sometimes your best approach for brown bass is to get unconventional. I'd throw spinnerbaits and crankbaits for smallmouth, especially around the deep edges of transition areas. Tubes on the rocks or crawfish pattern crankbaits bounced through the sand and rocks in 8-15 FOW might just be the ticket to stick a big fish this weekend.
Northern Pike have been active-throw spinnerbaits, buzzbaits or lipless crankbaits around shallow patches of weeds for some action. Bigger fish can be taken on slip sinker rigs tipped with larger bait around the deeper edges of the roadbeds or rocky points.
Walleye: The bite has dropped off substantially with a lake fly hatch this past week, but some fish are being caught on live bait in 8-12 FOW. Oconomowoc has been active while the bite has dropped off some on Pine, North and Lac Labelle.
Around the area: Trout are still coming, although in limited numbers, from the stocked lakes and ponds.
Good Luck.
Panfish, especially bluegills were already spawning on many local lakes. Some fish were starting to make nests in the shallow sand. Look for active fish along the inside edges of weedlines at the end of points, a key staging area for panfish before the spawn. Some crappies can be caught off deeper fish attractors/brushpiles...but fishing vertically, tightlining tail hooked crappies minnows is probably your best approach. I heard some decent crappies were coming from Ashippun, Kessus and Pine, but I have not verified this.
Largemouth bass are more or less done with their spawning activity. Lots of fish are still schooled up and chasing bait on the shallow to mid depth weed flats with scattered cover. Baitfish remains the key factor on fish location so presentations made slow and very tight to cover (like flipping or texas rigs for example) willcatch fish. If the wind is laying down, one of my better tricks for these conditions is to twitch a size 11 floating rapala minnow, pop-r or pop-x around shallow structure/cover. This is also prime time for live bait presentations, especially larger shiners or small suckers on a slip sinker rig.
Smallmouth were finishing up the spawning ritual. Likely will be a tough bite until conditions stabilize a little, but when the bite is tough sometimes your best approach for brown bass is to get unconventional. I'd throw spinnerbaits and crankbaits for smallmouth, especially around the deep edges of transition areas. Tubes on the rocks or crawfish pattern crankbaits bounced through the sand and rocks in 8-15 FOW might just be the ticket to stick a big fish this weekend.
Northern Pike have been active-throw spinnerbaits, buzzbaits or lipless crankbaits around shallow patches of weeds for some action. Bigger fish can be taken on slip sinker rigs tipped with larger bait around the deeper edges of the roadbeds or rocky points.
Walleye: The bite has dropped off substantially with a lake fly hatch this past week, but some fish are being caught on live bait in 8-12 FOW. Oconomowoc has been active while the bite has dropped off some on Pine, North and Lac Labelle.
Around the area: Trout are still coming, although in limited numbers, from the stocked lakes and ponds.
Good Luck.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Revised Bag Limits Up North...
The DNR has revised the bag limits on many of the lakes in the ceded territory.
Press Release and Links are Here.
The Full List Is Here
Press Release and Links are Here.
Anglers' daily bag limit for walleye will increase to five per day on 269 lakes, to three per day on 171 lakes, and to two walleye per day on seven lakes, according to Ron Bruch, DNR Fisheries Bureau Director.
"This is a great time of year to fish for walleye," said Bruch. "With spring just arriving, taking ice off the lakes, and with the walleye done spawning, anglers should find hungry fish ready to bite."
The Full List Is Here
Fishing Report 5-22-14 (Memorial Day Weekend)
Greetings,
The fishing has picked up some this past week. The relatively stable weather has started to push the fish towards some patterns. Catching fish hasn't been an issue, patterning them has been the problem.
Condition wise: Weed growth is way ahead of itself this year, and water temps are ranging from the low to high 60's.
Panfish are starting to move into shallow cover. Wood laydowns, reeds and any standing shallow water weed clumps are good bets. Crappie can still be seen congregating in the shallows around wood, while schools of bluegills and some yellow perch are starting to pop up around other types of shallow cover, especially sand. If you're catching smaller panfish, move out just a little deeper and you'll probably find what you are looking for. Use live bait to find fish, then plastics once you are on some better sized fish.
Largemouth bass fishing has gotten more interesting. Lots of small male fish moved up onto nests in shallow water, but there are lots of quality pre-spawn fish are still on the feed. If the weather stays stable over the next couple of days, spawning activity will pick up.
Two pieces of advice: 1.)...beating the banks may find you a quality fish or two, but out over the flats with scattered cover will be more consistent. 2.) ...look for visible baitfish where you are fishing. If you're not seeing schools of shiners or juvenile panfish in the weeds or wood you are fishing on....you're not going to catch as many fish. I'm catching a fair number of fish, but I'm scratching them together doing a couple of different things. One thing that has been consistent though...areas with current have been producing, but you must slow way down with a presentation to get a consistent bite.
Smallmouth fishing has varied lake to lake...primarily on the water temperature differences between our local bodies of water. Keep it simple, play the water temperature game. Look for active fish in shallow rocks or sand. Patrolling fish will feed, fish holding tight to cover or the bottom are less likely to do so. This is a great time to use skirted grubs on a football head jig for shallow smallmouth and larger curl-tail grubs in deeper water. Chubs, Roaches or Shiners on a split shot or light lindy rig will also produce...especially if you find some fish in 12-18 FOW around some of the shallow structure.
Walleye fishing: Not much to report. Anglers who are chasing walleyes right now report finding them in 6-8 FOW. Finesse live bait rigs or small jigs tipped with leeches seem to be doing the job. Lac Labelle is always a solid bet for action-but there's very few weeds up out there just yet. Oconomwoc, North and Pine have been better options for keepers.
Northern pike have been active on most area lakes. Smaller fish are being caught in the shallow weeds using spinners, buzzbaits lipless crankbaits, and minnowbaits-nd if you're out for action, this bite has been the most consistent. Bigger pike have been a little harder to come by, but dragging live bait-small suckers, chubs or large/jumbo shiners with a slip sinker rig off the first deep break is still finding a few quality fish.
Musky fishing has been a bit on the slow side, but some decent fish are still being caught in shallow areas close to where bass and panfish spawn, but a few have started to make their way out to deeper ledges and drops. I've heard smaller gliders are pulling up some follows, but I had two fish to the boat on Tuesday morning throwing a bucktail.
Stocked trout are still being caught out of the area lakes and ponds...but if you want in on the action, best to get to it soon.
A handful of Whitebass are still being caught in FT Atkinson and near the Jefferson Dam on the Rock River. The Catfish bite has also been picking up a little bit as the water temperatures move up.
Should be a great weekend both weather and fishing. Be safe.
Cheers,
CT
The fishing has picked up some this past week. The relatively stable weather has started to push the fish towards some patterns. Catching fish hasn't been an issue, patterning them has been the problem.
Condition wise: Weed growth is way ahead of itself this year, and water temps are ranging from the low to high 60's.
Panfish are starting to move into shallow cover. Wood laydowns, reeds and any standing shallow water weed clumps are good bets. Crappie can still be seen congregating in the shallows around wood, while schools of bluegills and some yellow perch are starting to pop up around other types of shallow cover, especially sand. If you're catching smaller panfish, move out just a little deeper and you'll probably find what you are looking for. Use live bait to find fish, then plastics once you are on some better sized fish.
Largemouth bass fishing has gotten more interesting. Lots of small male fish moved up onto nests in shallow water, but there are lots of quality pre-spawn fish are still on the feed. If the weather stays stable over the next couple of days, spawning activity will pick up.
Two pieces of advice: 1.)...beating the banks may find you a quality fish or two, but out over the flats with scattered cover will be more consistent. 2.) ...look for visible baitfish where you are fishing. If you're not seeing schools of shiners or juvenile panfish in the weeds or wood you are fishing on....you're not going to catch as many fish. I'm catching a fair number of fish, but I'm scratching them together doing a couple of different things. One thing that has been consistent though...areas with current have been producing, but you must slow way down with a presentation to get a consistent bite.
Smallmouth fishing has varied lake to lake...primarily on the water temperature differences between our local bodies of water. Keep it simple, play the water temperature game. Look for active fish in shallow rocks or sand. Patrolling fish will feed, fish holding tight to cover or the bottom are less likely to do so. This is a great time to use skirted grubs on a football head jig for shallow smallmouth and larger curl-tail grubs in deeper water. Chubs, Roaches or Shiners on a split shot or light lindy rig will also produce...especially if you find some fish in 12-18 FOW around some of the shallow structure.
Walleye fishing: Not much to report. Anglers who are chasing walleyes right now report finding them in 6-8 FOW. Finesse live bait rigs or small jigs tipped with leeches seem to be doing the job. Lac Labelle is always a solid bet for action-but there's very few weeds up out there just yet. Oconomwoc, North and Pine have been better options for keepers.
Northern pike have been active on most area lakes. Smaller fish are being caught in the shallow weeds using spinners, buzzbaits lipless crankbaits, and minnowbaits-nd if you're out for action, this bite has been the most consistent. Bigger pike have been a little harder to come by, but dragging live bait-small suckers, chubs or large/jumbo shiners with a slip sinker rig off the first deep break is still finding a few quality fish.
Musky fishing has been a bit on the slow side, but some decent fish are still being caught in shallow areas close to where bass and panfish spawn, but a few have started to make their way out to deeper ledges and drops. I've heard smaller gliders are pulling up some follows, but I had two fish to the boat on Tuesday morning throwing a bucktail.
Stocked trout are still being caught out of the area lakes and ponds...but if you want in on the action, best to get to it soon.
A handful of Whitebass are still being caught in FT Atkinson and near the Jefferson Dam on the Rock River. The Catfish bite has also been picking up a little bit as the water temperatures move up.
Should be a great weekend both weather and fishing. Be safe.
Cheers,
CT
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Lighthouse Youth Center -Musky Tournament
Another event for your attention- A bragging rights musky tournament for a kids charity:
From the email bin:
Executive Director
Lighthouse Youth Center
From the Event Registration Website:
Cheers,
CT
From the email bin:
Pastor James G. BuskePlease join me in fishing the Lighthouse Youth Center Muskie Tournament on May 31st. Proceeds of this event will benefit this central city after school program. Details of the event can be found at 2014 Muskie Tournament.
Executive Director
Lighthouse Youth Center
From the Event Registration Website:
Join us for the 7th Annual Muskie Tournament on Pewaukee Lake - Half Day Tournament starting at 7:30am-Saturday, May 31, 2014
By participating in this annual fishing tournament you are providing the opportunity for nearly 1000 inner city youth of Milwaukee to improve their chances for success!
Cheers,
CT
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