Algoma Area
Trout and salmon are biting very well on Lake Michigan, with catches of 10 to 15 fish coming in. Salmon seem to be favoring flies, while trout are hitting spoons. Fishing pressure was on the slower side last week, yet those who did get out had good opportunities and success. Baitfish have been near shore, providing opportunities for pier fishing in both Algoma and Kewaunee. Chinook salmon were in near the Kewaunee pier last week, and some shore anglers had luck getting them to bite. As for trolling on Lake Michigan, anglers fishing for salmon found success in 80 to 100 feet, and possibly later in the day to depths of 200 feet. Fish have been mostly near the bottom. A smaller number of steelhead also were found in the same range as the salmon. As weather warms, trolling will continue to pick up.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Ashland Area ( top )
Ashland Area
Lake Superior is clearing up and warming up a bit, and the bite is getting better. Right now trolling really shallow water to the first breaks in 40 to 60 feet of water has been good for mixed catches of splake, browns, cohos, steelhead, and lakers; even a few nice kings have been reported. Fish are scattered. In the bay there has been some walleye trolling around the head of the bay, and over on the east end, again in shallow water, with some nice pike caught, as well. Bass fishing in the sloughs is picking up, with more fish moving in daily. There were still a few steelhead reported in the rivers ’�� mostly spawned-out fish. Stream trout fishing has been decent, too. Flies, bait, and even spinners have been catching some nice resident browns, brookies, and baby steelhead.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Chetek Area ( top )
Chetek Area
The walleyes are still feeding in the shallows of the Chetek chain. Anglers are finding some success when using minnows and fishing the low-light hours of the day. The northern pike seem to be out in 7 to 10 feet of water along the outside weed edge. Spinnerbaits are working well, and spoons rolled along these edges will produce some nice fish. Some bass still are being found in the spawning stage. Most are little males. Panfish can be caught in the shallows, also. You will find lots of fish in some of the bays that have warmed up quite of bit during the past few days of sunshine and warmer nights. Fly-rod fishermen are having good success with some nice bluegills.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Chippewa Falls Area ( top )
Madison Area
Panfish and bass activity has been quite good on Dunn County lakes, and Menomin and Tainter lakes, as these waters seem to warm up sooner than most.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Eagle River Area ( top )
Eagle River Area
The walleyes are biting both on the shallower, dark lakes ’�� like the Eagle River chain ’�� and on the deeper, clearer lakes. Fish the shallower lakes in 10 feet of water or less in and around the weeds, using a light jig tipped with a fathead. On the deeper lakes, fish 20 to 30 feet over hard bottom or mud, depending on what’��s present on the particular lake. Use a heavier jig, tipped with a fathead. Northern pike are hitting hard in 10 feet of water or less, in and around the weeds. Use a bass-style spinnerbait, or a Rapala Husky Jerk in a minnow or walleye pattern. There’��s a good smallie bite on the deeper, clearer lakes. Fish 15 feet of water or less over sand and gravel bottom with a deep-diving crankbait. Crappies are providing very good action. Fish 10 feet of water or less in the shallower weeds. There are some perch hanging out with the walleyes in 10 feet of water or less in and around the weeds. Use a light jig tipped with a fathead, or a crappie minnow under a slip bobber.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Green Bay Appleton Area ( top )
Green Bay/Appleton Area
In Oconto County, limits of perch have been reported by the ’��red can’�� (in the vicinity of the Little Sucker Hole) out of the Oconto Breakwater Harbor. Smallmouth bass were being caught on crankbaits all along the rocky breakwater. Walleye anglers were having moderate success trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses in the 6- to 10-foot range out of Oconto Park II, Oconto Breakwater, and the Pensaukee River. The Stiles dam area has been producing some nice brown trout (14 to 16 inches) on free-floating fathead minnows. Anglers fishing with worms in the Stiles dam area also were catching a few browns, along with some nice panfish. Mallard ducklings are hatched out, and bucks have antlers developing in velvet.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Hayward Area ( top )
Hayward Area
Walleye fishing success has been sporadic, with a few reports of some good catches being made. Jig and minnow combinations continue to be the favorite bait, though crankbaits along the shorelines also have produced some decent catches. The slow warmup has finally increased water temperatures into the low 60s on most lakes, and this has brought most bass and panfish up into the shallows. Crappies are just about finished spawning, while bluegills and pumpkinseeds have just started up on the smaller lakes. Northern pike action has been excellent, with the fish being very active with the warming water. Muskie activity was generally good, with a fair number of mid-30-inch fish caught on small bucktails and crankbaits. Mayfly hatches have just begun.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
La Crosse Area ( top )
La Crosse Area
Bluegill fishing is very good on Lake Onalaska. Bluegills were hitting poppers in the shallows and pieces of nightcrawlers throughout the lake.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Lake Michigan Metro Area Lakes ( top )
Lake Michigan/Metro Area Lakes
In Sheboygan, shore fishing has been slow except for occasional chinooks hitting spoons or alewives off the south pier. Trollers have been catching chinooks and rainbows on spoons. Fish have been scattered south of the harbor in 120 to 250 feet.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Manitowoc Two Rivers Area ( top )
Manitowoc/Tow Rivers Area
Anglers fishing in Manitowoc had a good week when weather conditions were favorable. Boat anglers had mixed success, but their catch improved when good weather returned. Most boats returned with a mixed catch of lake trout, rainbow trout, and chinook and coho salmon. Anglers had success in anywhere from 90 to 200 feet of water. Pier anglers had a slow week despite good weather and steady fishing pressure. In Two Rivers, boat anglers also had a good week on Lake Michigan. One rainbow trout angler had a good afternoon with three rainbows in 220 to 240 feet of water off of high lines. A couple days later, action picked up for many boaters with mixed catches of salmon and trout. The largest chinook salmon harvested and recorded by the creel clerk was 17 pounds and 32.5 inches. Most successful boat anglers trolled in 90 to 170 feet.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Marinette Area ( top )
Marinette Area
Slow-trolling the Menominee River at night using crawlers/harnesses and crankbaits have worked well for walleyes. Free-floating minnows in the current seams have been producing a variety of fish in the Peshtigo and Menominee rivers. Still-fishing at the Hattie Street dam with crawlers produced walleyes, smallmouths, and panfish. Anglers at the Peshtigo River Harbor were seeing nice catches of catfish while fishing crawlers on the bottom. Rainbow trout were hitting below the dam in Peshtigo. Spinners in a variety of colors, and caddis flies in a No. 16 along with a prince or hare’��s ear nymph in No. 18, used in tandem, have been very successful. Bluegills and bass are on nests of inland lakes and flowages.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Minocqua Woodruff Area ( top )
Minocqua/Woodruff Area
Cool weather hampered the bite for what should have been a great week. Mid-week nighttime lows to the frost level pushed crappies off their spawning areas. Smallmouth bass have been similarly affected. Northern pike action has been good, but low-pressure systems had pike biting like shy walleyes. Slow-dragging a medium chub on a light jig through lightly vegetated flats worked the best. Crappie action has been good to very good (but could be better). Crappies are still being found staged outside spawning areas in 7 to 9 feet of cabbage. Walleye action has been fair. Super lows probably had the biggest effect, and rare southeast winds didn’��t help. Minnows are still the best choice, as water temps remain in the mid 50s. Flowages have been the best bets, but there are lots of smaller fish. Smallmouth bass are still staging. Largemouth bass action has been good. Most largemouths are being caught by accident by walleye and pike anglers.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Prairie Du Chien Area ( top )
Marinette Area
Bluegill, perch, and crappie action was spotty last week. Perch action at Lock and Dam No. 9 was spotty, with some anglers catching a few decent fish using a chunk of crawler. Angers are using a piece of crawler fished off the bottom to catch perch. Bluegill action in the area of the dam is picking up, too. Crappies have been taken in the slack backwater areas. Crappies have been biting some days on small minnows or jigs. Fishing at Cold Spring was slow, with a few reports of bluegill action. Bluegills and crappies were being taken there on occasion. Anglers have been targeting the shallows because the receding water and warmer temperatures are causing the bluegills and crappies to head into those areas. The boat ramp at Cold Spring is in good shape. The Ambro Slough complex is starting to get fished a bit more now that the water has come down. There has been some bluegill action in the backwaters in Fish Lake and in the Doubles. Sturgeon Slough did not see much activity because the water is still moving through that area. Horseshoe Lake is starting to produce bluegills. Spring Lake was slow. Bluegills were being found in the shallows, on garden worms or pieces of crawler. Fishing for sauger and walleyes was pretty good last week. Many anglers were targeting wing dams, slough closures, and main channel ’��flats.’�� Some nice catches were taken this past week by anglers drifting leeches or crawlers, or trolling with crankbaits. The Roseau Slough area and the S curve by Harper’��s Ferry have produced fish.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Price County Area ( top )
Price County Area
The North Fork and South Fork of the Flambeau River are at a normal level. Paddlers are still paddling the South Fork, but have to pick their path more carefully due to rocks. North Fork paddlers are reporting good conditions, as well. Local anglers are reporting good bluegill and sunfish action on local lakes, and catfish are biting on the river. ATV trails are open and in good shape. Fawns and turtles are being seen. Bears are still busy wreaking havoc on bird feeders and garbage cans.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
Wausau Area ( top )
Wausau Area
Walleye fishing has been excellent, with big fish being caught during daylight hours on a regular basis. Anglers looking to score should stock an assortment of weedless jigs and probe the plentiful logjams, blowdowns, and submerged wood in the area. Jigs are most productive, tipped with fatheads. A big bonus is that anglers will score a variety of fish such as largemouth bass, northerns, and the occasional muskie. The better weedbeds will produce walleyes on slip bobbers when fished during early morning or evening, as well. Smallies are providing some fine action. Work shallower areas containing rocks, gravel, or sand. Use a lipless-style crankbait. For fishing close to stumps or other heavier cover, use 3-inch weedless tubes. Smallies have been active in as little as a foot of water, so be sure not to overlook the ’��skinniest’�� areas. Muskie action has been consistently good. The best action has come from shallower water containing weeds or wood near shore. Points, especially those extending farther out into a lake or river and adjacent to shallow bays, and backwaters. also are holding fish.
Friday, June 13, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
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Topic: Wisconsin fishing reports 06/13/08 (Read 2967 times)
