GET YOUR POLES READY

[Lee Borgersen]

    Strong walleye fishing expected for Wis open

      :fishing2: GET YOUR POLES READY
 



Walleye
2014-04-30

If you’re looking for walleyes, this weekend’s fishing opener might be the right time.

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As area fishermen get set to head out for this weekend’s start to the fishing season, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Heath Benike says strong walleye numbers are expected in waters around the area.

Those strong numbers are expected because of a good 2011 hatch of young walleyes that are now grown to adult size. Those numbers have Benike optimistic about the walleye fishing for this weekend’s opener as well as the near future.

“The 2011 walleye hatch is very good on the Chippewa and Eau Claire river system,” Benike said. “Those fish are keeper sized or getting to that point and we should have good walleye fishing this year and hopefully next year from that strong hatch.”

In Chippewa County, those strong groups of walleye can be found on Lake Wissota, the Holcombe Flowage and all areas of water in between. Benike said the best spots on those waters to spot the walleyes are below dams in places like Cornell and Jim Falls as well as on any wind-swept shorelines.

“The walleyes will congregate around those areas on those wind-swept shorelines,” Benike said.

But Benike also warned fishing near the dams to be careful. Waters are flooding, leading to sharper currents that can make fishing in those areas potentially dangerous.

Northern Pike should also be active for this weekend’s opener and can also be found in shallower bays. But those pike won’t be alone in the shallow bays, especially if the sun is out.

“When the sun comes out, those shallow bays usually attract panfish too because they warm up faster,” Benike said. “Any shallow water on any bay, river or flowage would hold bluegills, crappies and fish like that.”

This week’s forecasted rainy weather is expected to move through and turn into sun and temperatures in the 50s by the weekend, great weather for the opener according to Benike.

With warmer weather finding its way to the area earlier than it did last year, all the lakes in the area are pretty much clear of ice and even more northern lakes are quickly losing what’s left of their ice.

“The lakes in Chippewa, Eau Claire and Dunn County are pretty much ice free right now,” Benike said. “The farther north you go, the more ice you’re going to get. But even some of the lakes up by the Barron area should be out by the opener.”

One major change for this year’s fishing season is a change in early-season bass fishing in the northern bass zone. This year, early-season largemouth bass caught in the zone can be kept for the first time in over two decades. In the past, all large and smallmouth bass caught early in the season were catch and release. Now, smallmouth bass are the only catch and release in the zone, a regulation that runs to June 21. Chippewa County is not part of the NBZ, but fishermen traveling north to fish should be familiar with the change in the rules.

With better weather, water and anticipated fish numbers than in years past, Benike expects a great start to what is one of the most popular and successful outdoor activites in the state.

“It’s a big draw,” Benike said of the fishing season. “Fishing is a big industry in the state of Wisconsin.”

Licenses can be purchased now but are not needed for fishermen 15 years of age and under as well as anglers born before 1927 and all active military Wisconsin residents.