Wisconsin fishing reports 03/21/08

[Lee Borgersen]

 

Alcoma Area

Anglers were still catching browns and rainbows through the ice on the Ahnapee River late last week, but the ice was getting a little weak. Once the ice disappears, anglers will start casting for the rainbows and browns. The rainbow run should start soon.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Beaver Dam Area    ( top )

Beaver Dam Area

Fishermen were catching some nice crappies, bluegills, and perch on the north end of Beaver Dam Lake. Fox Lake was doing OK for itself, too. Walleyes were just starting to bite on the river just below Beaver Dam.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Eagle River Area    ( top )

Eagle River Area

Panfishing will continue to improve through ice-out - and beyond. Use electronics to locate the panfish. The most successful anglers are those who are patient, drill a lot of holes, grab the action when it happens, and are prepared to move around when the action slows. Look for crappies in 35 feet of water or less. The crappies are suspending at different depths, over and around structure. Use a minnow under a slip bobber, with the best jig colors being chartreuse and orange. The bluegills are in and around weeds in 15 feet of water or less. Use a small hook or small jig tipped with a waxie or a spike. The perch are being found in two distinct patterns - in deep water over mud flats in 35 feet of water or less, or in weeds in 15 feet of water or less. Use a waxie, spike, wiggler, or fathead minnow.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Green Bay Appleton Area     ( top )

Green Bay/Appleton Area

The Fox River is starting to break up at De Pere, but there were still a few anglers venturing out onto the ice for walleyes last week. The action hasn't been too bad, with numbers of walleyes being iced. In Voyager Park people have been casting crankbaits at night with some success. Ice fishing has been slow off of Oconto, but should be picking up soon. A few brown trout are being caught below Stiles dam on the Oconto River near Hwy. 141, but action has been slow and the banks to the river were quite slippery. Northern pike action on the bay has been slow, but should pick up with the melting snow flowing out of the feeder creeks. A good bet is to set up in front of one of these creeks in 2 to 3 feet of water.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Hayward Area    ( top )

Hayward Area

Fishermen who can get to the streams have been able to catch a few trout. Others have been poking around in search of panfish. They're finding a few crappies, but the perch and bluegills have been less cooperative. The good news is that ice travel is pretty decent right now, so fishermen can get around to different spots.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Lake Michigan Metro Area Lakes    ( top )

Lake Michigan/Metro Area Lakes

In Milwaukee, open water can be found in the inner harbor and all the way out to the harbor. Shore anglers fishing at the MMSD office building have been catching a few browns on shiners and spoons. The Menomonee River at Miller Park is free of ice, and flows are good for drift fishing. Oak Creek is also open and fishable.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Lake Winnebago Area    ( top )

Lake Winnebago Area

Fishermen were finding some walleyes at the mouth of the Fox River in Oshkosh, but it's an evening bite through the ice. There was no open-water fishing going on in the area as of late last week. Anglers were catching white bass on Lake Winnebago about 2 to 3 miles out from the mouth of the Fox River. Last week, anglers started prospecting on Butte des Morts for panfish, but there weren't reports coming in yet from that lake.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Madison Area    ( top )

Madison Area

Fishing had been pretty decent around Madison, with perch hitting on Lake Mendota near Picnic Point and Second Point. Bluegills were hitting along the university shoreline. Bluegills and crappies were being caught on Cherokee Marsh. Bluegills were hitting in most of the usual areas on Lake Monona, with perch hitting in 50 to 60 feet of water on Monona near Wild Haven.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Marinette Area    ( top )

Marinette Area

Anglers were still fishing through the ice for walleyes - and catching them - on the Menominee River as of last week. Bluegills, crappies, and perch were hitting in the river's backwater areas. Fishermen were just starting to poke around the open water near the mouth of the river for brown trout, but action was light.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Nekoosa Area    ( top )

Nekoosa Area

The Wisconsin River is open at Nekoosa, and the town landing is open. Anglers started dumping boats early last week, and they were catching walleyes. As of late last week, boaters were able to get downriver as far as Brown's Creek.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Prairie Du Chien Area    ( top )

Prairie du Chien Area

There was no open water in the area as of late last week, but anglers were catching panfish through the ice on some of the sloughs. A few anglers were getting boats in at Genoa for walleyes, but they had to head south because there was still too much ice to the north of the landing.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Sauk City Area    ( top )

Sauk City Area

Anglers are catching a lot of walleyes from the Wisconsin River below the dam in Prairie du Sac. Most guys are using jigs and minnows or jigs and Twister tails. Crappies are hitting on Blackhawk Lake early in the morning, and bluegills are hitting on White Mound Lake. The bays on Lake Wisconsin were starting to give up some nice-sized bluegills and crappies last week. Bluegills are hitting an hour before dark on Crystal Lake.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Siren Area    ( top )

Siren Area

Fishermen have been out for panfish recently, with some of the best reports coming from Big Doctor and Upper and Lower Clam.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Sturgeon Bay Area    ( top )

Sturgeon Bay Area

Perch fishing continued to be good out of Ern Joy's launch. Most people were fishing in 30 to 40 feet of water. Minnows seemed to be the ticket for the perch. Whitefish had also had been going strong last week. At Sturgeon Bay, action has been somewhat slow, with a few perch being caught at Potawatomi State Park. Perch action continued to be the main draw to Little Sturgeon Bay. Fish were being caught out in front of Clafins. Some people also were getting a few pike. Just south of Little Sturgeon off of Lime Kiln Road people are catching whitefish.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Wausau Area    ( top )

Wausau Area

Walleyes and northerns are being caught in the Wisconsin River backwaters. Look for shallow mud flats in 2 to 4 feet of water. Run tip-ups baited with golden shiners or sucker minnows for both species. The northerns will be most aggressive during the day, with the best walleye fishing beginning after dark. The panfish bite continues to be very good, and now in addition to the crappies and bluegills, some dandy jumbo perch are being caught. The fish are holding on wood, as the sun heats up the water around this structure. Use a small teardrop tipped with a waxie or spike, or tip-downs baited with small minnows, about a foot off the bottom.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Wolf River System Lake Poygan Area    ( top )

Wolf River System/Lake Poygan Area

The Wolf River still had ice on it as of last week, but anglers were catching buckets of white bass through the ice on Lake Poygan.