Wisconsin fishing reports 05/15/08

[Lee Borgersen]

Algoma Area    ( top )

Algoma Area

There are still some browns being caught in shallow water, and there are still a few steelhead and suckers in the streams. The best days for brown trout action on the streams have been cloudy days, or days when there's a little bit of runoff to stir up the water somewhat. Fishing for kings, lakers, and rainbows is expected to start up soon on Lake Michigan.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Ashland Area    ( top )

Ashland Area

Lake Superior trollers have been fishing mainly north of Washburn, when the wind allows them get out. Reports have been somewhat spotty, with the cold weather and predominantly northeast winds. A few big browns, splake, cohos, and steelhead have been caught, but the rain and quick melt have made all of the waters muddy. Finding the lines and seams of clear water has been key. Rocky shorelines have been good, too, on sunny days. In the bay, there have been some boaters fishing around the “hot pond,” reporting a few nice walleyes, northern pike, and even some bass. Bass in the sloughs are there, but sluggish, and fishing has been slow. Smallmouth fishermen must be aware of the new rules - all bass fishermen must use artificial lures only, with barbless hooks. No live bait is allowed until June 21. Please write or e-mail your state legislator and let him or her know about your displeasure with the current fisheries regulation, and that you'd like them to return to the way they were.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Beaver Dam Area    ( top )

Beaver Dam Area

The crappies were starting to bite last week on Beaver Dam, with the best action occurring toward evening and tight to the shoreline. Walleyes are hitting on the rock piles on jigs and live bait.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Big Green Lake Area    ( top )

Big Green Lake Area

Anglers were starting to find a few lake trout last week, and the fish weren't all that deep - mostly in 40 to 60 feet of water. Brown trout were being caught pretty close to shore. On sunny days, bluegill fishing has been pretty good. Largemouths are starting to move into the shallows and should be biting better soon.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Chetek Area    ( top )

Chetek Area

The Chetek chain opener was successful for those who braved the windy, chilly conditions. Northern pike and panfish were active in the bays. The walleye fishing was very good, and even the bass action warmed up as the weekend progressed. Fishermen were finding northens and a few bluegills and crappies, in some of the warmer bays. Spinnerbaits and minnows were working for the northern pike. Walleye fishermen seemed to like the good chop for drifting and bouncing jigs and Twister tails over hard-bottom areas. Other fishermen fishing crawlers found success on sand points and bars.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Eagle River Area    ( top )

Eagle River Area

The opener produced some good action, even though there was wind, rain, and cold temperatures. Water temperatures were in the lower 40s. Walleyes and perch were biting well. Walleyes hit in 8 feet of water or less over hard bottom, on light jigs tipped with and fathead minnows. The bite consisted almost exclusively of smaller males. Some anglers fishing deeper water managed a few larger females here and there, but with the spawn just coming on, most of the walleyes in the shallows were males. The perch also were in 8 feet of water or less, but over mud bottom. Some nice northerns were caught, along with good numbers of smaller hammer handles. The action for bigger fish will pick up rapidly as the water warms.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Green Bay Appleton Area     ( top )

Green Bay/Appleton Area

The weather killed the walleye fishing last week. A few anglers were still finding fish by trolling in the river and on the bay, but they were pretty secretive about how to find the fish. There were a lot of smallmouth bass in the Fox River last week, and they were going crazy. Not a lot of anglers pursue smallies in the river, so that's an overlooked resource.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Hayward Area    ( top )

Hayward Area

The bite has been OK for walleyes, and the crappie action has been very good. There hasn't been much in the way of bass fishing yet, but the pike fishing has been pretty good. Water temperatures are still below average, and the walleyes are still recovering from the spawn. Male walleyes were being caught last week in 3 to 10 feet of water.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Lake Michigan Metro Area Lakes    ( top )

Lake Michigan/Metro Area Lakes

Sheboygan shore fishing has been slow, but boaters running in 10 to 30 feet of water from the harbor to the power plant were catching browns last week. Port Washington browns were being caught on spoons in 20 to 40 feet of water, and Milwaukee shore anglers have been catching brown trout on crankbaits off the pier. Trollers were catching chinooks on flashers and flies. In Racine, fishing was slow, but Root River anglers caught a few steelhead below the dam. In Kenosha, anglers were catching a few browns on spawn.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Lake Winnebago Area    ( top )

Lake Winnebago Area

White bass and crappies are tearing it up in the Fox River. Walleyes are hitting on Lake Winnebago.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Madison Area    ( top )

Madison Area

Anglers were catching walleyes at night last week, especially on Lake Mendota and a little bit on Lake Waubesa and the Yahara River. Muskie action was slow, but a few fish were caught on Waubesa and Wingra. Crappies were starting to stage in 6 to 8 feet of water near rocks last week, especially near Fox Bluff and in University Bay. Bluegill action has been fair on Lake Monona. Waubesa anglers reported good crappie action.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Marinette Area    ( top )

Marinette Area

Anglers were still catching a lot of walleyes in the Menominee River. Most of the walleyes are spawned out. Success has been coming on jigs and crawler harnesses. Anglers also were catching browns on the bay.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Minocqua Woodruff Area    ( top )

Minocqua/Woodruff Area

It was one of the quietest openers the area has ever seen. Traffic was way down and fishing pressure was light. Ice went off most lakes by Friday before the opener. Cold, snow, rain, and wind hindered success. Water temps actually dropped from Friday (as high as 48 degrees on some flowages) and continued to fall even further by Sunday. Nice walleyes were caught and released, including fish of 26, 28, and 29 inches. Most of the walleyes had not spawned on most lakes as of opening weekend. Water temps were sitting at 38 to 42 degrees, so most of the spawning would have taken place last week. The smaller, darker waters produced the best on crankbaits or jig and minnow combos. Crappie and largemouth bass action was good, and a few pike and perch were caught. Remember to use artificial lures and barbless hooks for bass.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Prairie Du Chien Area    ( top )

Marinette Area

The fishing was a little slow last week because of the continued high water, but anglers were still catching fish. The bluegills have been up in the brush, and largemouths and smallies were hitting out in the current. Anglers were finding post-spawn walleyes back in the sloughs. There has been some trout fishing, too. Turkey hunting has been good on the days of better weather.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Price County Area    ( top )

Price County Area

Fishing has been pretty good. Anglers are catching a lot of walleyes below the dams on the rivers. Most anglers are just fishing from shore and throwing jigs and minnows. Anglers also are catching walleyes on the lakes, and, on Butternut Lake, they're finding some big perch. Fishermen have been using crankbaits in the shallows after dark for walleyes. Trout were hitting on Patterson Lake on opening weekend on Mepps Comet Minnows - anglers made a run on them at the store. Fishing action should improve as the water warms. On May 5, the water temperature on Butternut Lake was 42.5 degrees.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Sauk City Area    ( top )

Sauk City Area

The stripers are going ballistic in the Wisconsin River below the Sauk City dam. Crappies are hitting in any of the bays on Crystal Lake and Lake Wisconsin in 5 to 6 feet of water. There has been some very good trout action in the creeks where you can find clear water. Anglers also are finding walleyes in the Wisconsin River and on Lake Wisconsin.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Siren Area    ( top )

Siren Area

Fishermen have been finding decent action on the lakes and streams. One angler brought in an 8-pound brookie from a lake, and another angler caught a 10-pound northern pike. The water has been warming steadily and the action has been improving. The lakes haven't been too busy, though, because of the weather.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Spooner Area    ( top )

Spooner Area

The walleye action was pretty limited during the opener because of the cold water and terrible weather. Guys were blown off of many of the bigger lakes. Crappies are hitting on just about all of the area lakes, and pike action is picking up. Trout fishermen are doing well on the area streams.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Wausau Area    ( top )

Wausau Area

Walleyes on area rivers and lakes have spawned, but they're still very catchable. During this transition period of migration, search for walleyes in a variety of depths and areas. Once located, use crankbaits or jigs and Twister tails. Some nice fish up to 10 pounds were being caught. Many post-spawn walleyes also are succumbing to trolling presentations. Smallmouth bass have already begun to move from their winter locations toward spawning grounds. Locate these fish in gravel or rock bottom areas. Numbers of trophy smallies are almost a “gimme” on the Wisconsin River system. Northern pike up to 40 inches were being caught on the Wisconsin River and the Big Eau Pleine. The largest northerns were in the bays, sloughs, and inlets. Numbers of large carp also are in the sloughs and bays, making for some of the best shooting of the season.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT

Wolf River System    ( top )

Wolf River System/Lake Poygan Area

Excellent fishing last week easily made up for the bad weather. The white bass run is now in full swing and is going strong. Walleyes continue to provide very good action on the Wolf River and Lake Poygan. Crappies are being caught in the sloughs and channels.

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:08 AM CDT