Wisconsin Fishing Reports 10/18/08

[Lee Borgersen]

Algoma Area    ( top )

Algoma Area

Plenty of chinook and coho salmon were in the upstream pools of the rivers and streams last week. Many of the chinooks were spawning. Also, plenty of cohos and browns were in the Ahnapee and Kewaunee rivers. A lot of trout and salmon were being caught from the local piers. On the streams, drifted yarn flies or spawn seem to be working the best. Younger salmon and steelhead were being caught by trollers - mostly in the top 60 feet - on Lake Michigan.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Ashland Area    ( top )

Ashland Area

Cohos, splake, browns, and even a few steelies and pinks have been reported near the river mouths, and even up in the rivers. Try trolling crankbaits off of planer boards, or small spoons off of divers and shallow riggers. The Lindenberg family of Ashland trolled up a big brown for Lake Superior - 35 inches and over 15 pounds. Shore anglers are using spoons, large spinners, or are soaking spawn and crawlers off of the river mouths. Lake trout fishing is now closed. In the bay, bass fishing is improving. Bass still scattered in deeper water on structure. Look for a push of bass, walleyes, and northern back up into shallower water with the cooling temps.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Big Green Lake Area     ( top )

Big Green Lake Area

Anglers were catching a few bluegills in the shallows last week on Big Green. They were just starting to move in, with water temperatures at 61 degrees. Some nice crappies were mixed in with the bluegills. Some nice northern pike were coming into the weedlines, too. They're following the panfish. Lake trout fishing is closed, but the brown trout season is still open. Anglers were catching browns up to 25 inches earlier.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Chetek Area    ( top )

Chetek Area

Fishing interest has been a little light lately, but some anglers have been catching walleyes below the dam on the Chetek River on jigs and minnows. A few guys are still drifting deep water for crappies on the Chetek chain. Some bluegills are being caught on worms and jigs.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Eagle River Area    ( top )

Eagle River Area

Northern pike continue to hit well. The Eagle River chain is producing particularly well, but most of the pike were average to small. Use spinnerbaits or large minnows under a bobber in and around weeds in 3 to 10 feet of water. Crappies were putting on an excellent bite around cribs in about 10 feet of water. Muskie action was picking up nicely. The muskies have started to come shallower in the early mornings and evenings. Fish weeds or humps in bays in water as shallow as 3 or 4 feet. The best shallow action lure has been topwaters. Some muskie hunters are beginning to drag smaller suckers. During the day, there has been some good action for bigger fish on a big spinnerbait above weeds in deeper water. Walleye action has been sporadic. One day there's a strong bite, and the next day it's very slow. Most of the walleyes have been average size. The smallie bite is just average. The smallies are around humps, rocks, and over hard-bottomed areas in about 8 feet. Use larger minnows or a plastic worm rig.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Green Bay Appleton Area     ( top )

Green Bay/Appleton Area

The muskies are starting to perk up a little bit on the Fox River and in the lower part of Green Bay. A few walleyes have also started showing up in the Fox River. More walleyes will show up as the water cools down. Perch fishing has been spotty, but the guys who are finding the schools are catching plenty of fish.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Lake Michigan Metro Area Lakes    ( top )

Lake Michigan/Metro Area Lakes

Sheboygan shore anglers were catching chinooks and cohos on spoons and spawn. In the Sheboygan River, kings and browns were being caught near the Kohler dam.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Lake Winnebago Area    ( top )

Lake Winnebago Area

Fishing interest tapered off the past two weeks, so fishing reports have been kind of light. Anglers were getting some bluegills and crappies in the channels around lakes Winnebago, Poygan and Butte des Morts. Walleyes have been caught in the river when the wind kicks up a little current. Anglers were finding white bass, with the best action coming on a west wind.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Madison Area    ( top )

Madison Area

There was still quite a bit of fishing going on around the area last week. On Lake Mendota, walleyes are hitting on steeper shorelines all around the lake, and anglers were even finding some bigger northern pike on those shorelines, too. Schools of crappies were found in a couple of spots just off the walleye areas. Lake Monona muskie action started picking up again, and some bluegills have been moving into the Lake Monona weedlines. Monona Bay will be a good place to start looking for bluegills as soon as turnover occurs. Lake Waubesa was also supporting some good panfishing action.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Marinette Area    ( top )

Marinette Area

Anglers were catching trout and salmon in the Menominee River and Little River. Anglers were casting Cleos from the lighthouse pier for trout and salmon on the Menominee. Anglers were also catching trout and salmon below the Hattie Street dam. On Little River. They were using spawn sacs, yarn and marshmallows. Walleye action is starting to pick up, too, on the big river, and yellow perch were hitting out of Oconto.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Minocqua%2fwoodruff Area    ( top )

Minocqua/Woodruff Area

Three straight night of frost last week drove most lake temps past the turnover point. Surface temps were running 49 degrees on flowages to 54 to 57 degrees on larger lakes. Muskie fishing is very good. The cold snap triggered the sucker bite. On clear lakes use plain quick set rigs. On dark lakes, cloudy days, or windy days, use quick sets with spinners for flash. Twitched crankbaits are still working well over weed tops. There have been reports of good jerkbait action. Northern pike action was very good. The cold has helped there, also. Use small to medium crankbait, large chubs and or small suckers on jigs with wide gapped hooks along 6- to 10-foot weed edges. Largemouth and smallmouth action has been good, but the largemouths were hunkered down in heavy weeds. Use jigs and pigs , or fish plastics very slowly. The smallmouths are on rock humps. Use jigs, Lindy rigs, or drop-shot rigs. Walleye and crappie action has been fair. The best walleye action has been at dusk and after dark on glow jigs or lighted slip bobbers.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Nekoosa Area    ( top )

Nekoosa Area

The walleye fishing was going pretty good last week on the Wisconsin River. There has been some very good action, but most of the fish are either above or below the slot limit. Crappies, smallmouths and catfish are hitting better than average right now. Fishing in general has been good. A few guys have been poking around for muskies and there have been a few reports, but no big news yet.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Prairie Du Chien Area    ( top )

Prairie Du Chien Area

Fishing was a little slow last week, probably more because of the current than anything, that and warm water. Local fishermen need some "weather" to get things going on the Mississippi. Trout fishing has been very good across the river in Iowa, where the season is open.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Price County Area    ( top )

Price County Area

The muskie action has started picking up now that the water temperatures are dropping. Guys have been getting action on suckers and large crankbaits, such as Grandmas or any similar bait. Walleyes are hitting in deeper water on jigs and fatheads.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Sauk City Area    ( top )

Sauk City Area

Fishing action picked up on Lake Wisconsin last week. Some walleyes were being caught by trolling Shad Raps, or by jigging on points with jigs and minnows. Crystal Lake had a good bite on panfish - bluegills and crappies by drifting in 10 to 12 feet water and one foot off the bottom. Trout are hitting on Devils Lake. The boat landings are open.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Siren Area    ( top )

Siren Area

Anglers have been catching crappies and walleyes on Lower and Upper Clam lakes, and muskies are starting to show some signs of waking up on Yellow Lake. Smallmouths are hitting on the local rivers. Turkey hunters have brought in a lot of birds and bear hunters also did well. Archers are starting to bring in some deer, and duck hunters are having good luck.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Spooner Area    ( top )

Spooner Area

The walleyes moved into shallow water recently and were being caught in the 8- to 10-foot range. Bowhunters are waiting for the rut to kick in.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Upper Peninsula Report    ( top )

Upper Peninsula Report

Lake Gogebic's walleye fishing has been great. Sucker minnows fished in the weed beds are producing walleyes all over the lake. Some anglers also have done well using nightcrawler harnesses and bottom bouncers. Perch and smallmouth bass continue to bite on crawlers. Duck season and bow hunting are both in full swing.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Wausau Area    ( top )

Wausau Area

The fall walleye bite continues to be pretty decent. Good numbers of fish are showing up in the deeper holes and river stretches during the daylight hours. These fish move to adjacent flats and breaklines during low light hours. During the day, use live bait, either a jig or rig, such as a slip sinker rig. For the shallower bite, crankbaits worked at a slow to medium retrieve have worked well. An active bite for big smallies in shallower wood and rocks continues showing up every day. You can use crankbaits or jig and plastic combos - both have been working well. If the shallow bite turns off, move a bit deeper and work a jig and chub combo or countdown crankbait. Panfish remain aggressive. The panfish were holding just a bit deeper last week. Target submerged cover, mainly drowned wood, trees, snags and brush piles. Slip bobber rigs tipped with live bait have been effective. Muskie and northern pike fishermen have plenty to be excited about. Both species are becoming increasingly aggressive as water temps drop. Use quick-strike rigged suckers. At present, a mid-sized lure or smaller sucker have been producing the best, both in respect to action and quality of fish. Anglers looking to cast for either species can use jerkbaits or crankbaits. Look for structure such as rock outcroppings or timber near deeper water. Plenty of muskie activity is occurring after dark, as well, with muskies frequenting many of the same areas as the bigger walleyes.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT

Wolf River System%2flake Poygan Area    ( top )

Wolf River System/Lake Poygan Area

Anglers have been hammering on white bass and crappies on the Wolf River. White bass have been hitting all of the way from Lake Poygan to well above Fremont. Anglers have had to move around to stay with the white bass. Fall turkey hunting has been going pretty good for local hunters.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:23 AM CDT