Fishing Report 5-30-09

Hey Gang, Sorry I didn't get this up earlier.

The cooler weather and rain has made for some slower fishing the last week. Its hard to assess whether the lower number of people fishing or the weather is responsible.

Musky fishing has been off and on, sometimes even within the same day. Larger fish are starting to move out to the first break, but many can still be found in the shallows. A fair number of fish are patrolling the 6-12 foot depths where the larger panfish are moving up to spawn.

Northern Pike Fishing has been slow, but steady. Spinners, Buzzbaits, small bucktails and crankbaits are catching them, but the best presentation has been live bait in the form of a sucker on a slip slinker or lindy rig. Drifting in the 8-17 foot range around early weeds has been especially effective.

Walleye fishing has been hot. The cooler weather has kept fish shallow for the most part and they'll bite throughout the day. Look for the them on weed edges or points in 5-15 feet of water. Gravel and sand/gravel areas seem to be holding the most fish.

Bass fishing has remained consistent. A fair number of larger fish came in this week, in some cases to my surprise. Shallow water fishing is dominating the presentation, but a few fish were taken a little deeper on mid-depth crankbaits. If you're struggling, try drifting with lindy rigs tipped with small suckers, large shiners or nightcrawlers in 8-12 feet of water.

Panfish are moving up to spawn. Some of the shallow protected bays on area lakes already having fish nesting, but most of the larger fish are just moving up.

MMTNBBL: Prediction

I'll take the under bet this week.

This cooler weather and the off and on rain might make for a challenging night. I'm not sure how many people will fish. If the weather holds off, some decent fish will be caught, especially by anglers who take their time and fish slowly and tight to overhead cover or along rock/weed transition areas.

Post spawn conditions will continue to hamper a few anglers. The hot bite, what there will be of it tonight will be in sandy or rocky areas with lots of baitfish. Most fish will have assumed a neutral feeding position and will have a small strike zone. Anyone fishing piers is going to have to take their time to be really successful. If the weather improves a little by game time, a topwater/buzzbait bite might produce a nice fish or two.

I'm on the under so lets say around 3.75 to win with better than a 3lber to place. A four pound or better fish would be tough to beat tonight.


Sign up at the shop by 5:30, livewell check is at 5:50 at Point Comfort.

Fishing Outlook: Memorial Day Weekend

Greetings:

If you're in the area this weekend, here's what you can expect.

The spring has been cooler than normal, and the water temperatures are just rising into the low to mid sixties on most area lakes. A few lakes have very high water and some have day to day restrictions on speed. Walleyes, Musky and Pike have all spawned, and the bass are in the middle of the spawn on most area lakes.

Musky have been fairly active on our local lakes the past few weeks, and quite a number of quality fish have been caught, especially on the warmer, windy days. A solid shallow pattern has been working for anglers who put in the time. Look for fish on the shallow weed flats in 6-10 feet of water. Scattered weedclumps with visible baitfish or panfish are high percentage areas right now. A few fish are also using the first deep break in 12-18 feet of water. Gliders, swimbaits, bucktails and jerkbaits have all been consistent producers.

Best bets: Okauchee, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Fowler.

Northern Pike have been using the areas where there is new weedgrowth. Anglers targeting bass have been catching a number of pike ranging from smaller snakes to quality 30+" fish. Some of the larger pike are using the deep weedlines in 12-18 feet. Spinnerbaits,small bucktails, lipless crankbaits, floating rapalas and buzzbaits will all catch fish in the shallow water when fished around green weeds. Large shiners or small to medium sized suckers suspended underneath a float, longlined on a split shot rig, or fished deep on a slip-sinker setup are your best options for live bait.

Best Bets: Nagawicka, Golden, Okauchee, Fowler, Moose.

Walleye have been active in cycles that match our current weather patterns. On warmer, windy days they have been biting fairly well. On cooler days, especially those with a North or east wind, they have been very lethargic. Some fish are patrolling the shallows in the morning and evening hours, but the bulk of the fish are holding around rocky points and mid-depth weeds in 6-12 feet of water. Crankbaits like rapala shad raps are catching fish as has controlled drifting with live bait. Slow and steady have been the operative words. A nightcrawler, leech or small sucker on a lindy rig or long lined split shot setup have been the most consistent producers. A few fish are being caught around weeds using jig and plastic or jig and minnow combinations.

Best Bets: Pine, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Lac Labelle, the Nehmabins and Fox Lake.

Largemouth Bass are moving up to spawn on most area lakes. Schools of feeding males will be patrolling the shallow water, while larger fish still appear to be using weedflats to fee up. Look for fish anywhere from 2-15 feet of water around weed patches, wood laydowns or reeds. Shallow, dark bottom areas will hold the most fish. Wacky worms, shakey heads, swimbaits, texas rigged lizards or stickbaits, lipless crankbaits, and jigs with a chunk or craw trailer have all been producing. Natural colors have been better than flash this season. Nightcralwers or large leeches on a lindy or split shot rig or large shiners under floats fished around piers or along rockbars have been catching some nice fish.

Best Bets: Okauchee, Golden, Keesus, Pine, Nagawicka, Buelah, Moose.

Smallmouth Bass are still largely in a pre-spawn mode. Fish are patrolling the shallow bars a few times a day, especially on the warmer sunny days. Lots of fish are suspending in deeper water just off of shallow structure. Rocky/sand transition areas have been holding some fish who are foraging for craws. Suspending jerkbaits, tubes, wacky worms, swimbaits and lipless crankbaits in a crawfish pattern have all caught fish within the last ten days.

Best Bets: Oconomowoc, Lac Labelle, Pine, Nagawicka, Lower Nehmabin, Beaver.

Crappie are fully staged for the spawn. Many fish have started changing color already and are moving into areas with reeds and wood laydowns. Look for them around shallow cover in 2-8 feet of water. Tight-lining over deeper wood or weeds in 8-12 feet has also been effective on some lakes. Tailhooked fatheads, plastics or hair jigs tipped with a waxworm and rosie reds are your best live bait options for crappies.

Best Bets: Pine, Okauchee, Kessus, Golden, Garvin, Ashippun, Lake Five.

Bluegills are beginning to move into the shallow water on many area lakes, but the better sized fish have still been coming from anglers targeting them in a little deeper water. Shallow fish will be near sandy bottom areas with scattered weed growth, but if you just want the kids to catch a few fish, try fishing around any piers that are in the water adjacent to deeper water (6-10 feet). If you want to target eating size gills, look for them on the end of sandy/gravel points in 12-15 feet of water. Leafworms, plastics tipped with waxworms or spikes, panfish leeches or redworms are your best live bait options.

Best Bets: Golden, Silver, Garvin, Lower Nashotah, Forest, Upper and Lower Phantom, Ashippun, Upper Geneessee and Lake Five.

Catfish are being caught on the Rock River. Cutbait, stinkbait and nightcrawlers fished around the heads of the deeper holes has been producing some keepers.

Stop by the shop while you're in town this weekend. We'll have up to date information on local lakes and conditions. We can provide solutions to all of your bait and tackle needs or arrange for a trip with a fishing guide.

Good Luck Out There.
Chris Terry

Tuesday Results

1st Jeff Deguzman 3.60#
2nd Chad Leton 2.86#
3rd Dale Pavey 2.64#
49 anglers

My prediction was radically off the mark this week. If this weather holds, there will be some great fishing in the next few days.

CT

MMTNBBL:Week 3 Prediction

I'll take the over tonight. I think alot of fish will be caught tonight, but the weights will be down a bit. It'll still take a fish over 4lbs to win, but I doubt we'll see any above 5bs tonight.

The fish pulled out with the front, but the warm weather and sun will pull them back in. Areas where gills are starting to make nests will give up some very nice fish tonight. A gamble on fishing around deeper gill beds in 8-12feet of water might be worth it.

I'll say 4.75 to win tonight, 4lbs or better to place. Lots of fish between 14-18 inches will be caught.

Fishing Report

Fishing got a little tougher than I expected it to over the weekend. The wind late last week coupled with bluebird skies and very low temperatures resulted in some tough fishing over the weekend. With warmer weather on the way, I'd expect fishing to pick back up.

Gills, crappie and bass are in various stages of the spawn. In the warmer sections of the lakes, gill nests can already been seen in the shallows, in the mainlake sections, bass are starting to spawn.

Pike and musky are shallow, but most of the fish pulled out to the first break with the cooler weather.

The cold front put a serious dampening on walleye fishing, but you can expect that to pick up as temperatures climb to a more seasonal level.

Gone Fishin'

Headed out to fish the WMT Today. See you on the Water.

WMT This Weekend

I got a couple emails today about the Wisconsin Muskie Tour events this weekend. I tried to get ahold of the directors to see if any slots were available for Pewaukee on Saturday or Okauchee on Sunday. If they get back to me later today, I'll post and update.

The website says they take walk up registrations. Here's the signup/rules and weight in information from their website.

PEWAUKEE LAKE SATURDAY, MAY 16
REGISTRATION: FRIDAY, MAY 15 5:30 – 7:30PM
MACHINE SHED RESTAURANT, N14 W24145 TOWER RD (EXIT 294 OFF I94) WAUKESHA
RULES MEETING: MACHINE SHED RESTAURANT 7:30PM
EASE OUT: SMOKEY’S MUSKY SHOP 6:00AM
129 PARK AVE, PEWAUKEE (near the boat landing)
FISH REGISTRATION: SPORTS DOCK 6:00AM – 4:00PM
W278N2345 PROSPECT AVE, PEWAUKEE
AWARDS: MACHINE SHED RESTAURANT 5:00PM



LAKE OKAUCHEE SUNDAY, MAY 17
REGISTRATION: SATURDAY, MAY 16 6:00 – 6:30PM
MACHINE SHED RESTAURANT, N14 W24145 TOWER RD (EXIT 294 OFF I94) WAUKESHA
RULES MEETING: MACHINE SHED RESTAURANT 6:30PM (SAT.)
EASE OUT: ALIOTA’S HIDEAWAY 6:00AM
24657 ROAD E, OKAUCHEE
FISH REGISTRATION: ALIOTA’S HIDEAWAY 6:00AM – 4:00PM
AWARDS: MACHINE SHED RESTAURANT 5:00PM

Lac Labelle

Is still under a slow no wake order. The restriction has been lifted for nearby Fowler Lake.

The water is high on area lakes, and we're expecting more rain. Make sure to check the board at the launches for any changes or restrictions on speed for this weekend.

CT

Fishing report 5-14-09

Well gang, it looks like spring is here, too bad its the middle of May.

The next couple days look like they'll have some unstable weather in store, but that shouldn't affect the fishing too much.

Conditions: Water levels are very high throughout the area. Some lakes are day to day with slow-no wake restrictions, so make sure you check the board when you launch.

Musky fishing has been downright unbelievable this spring. Not only a large number of fish, but the size and quality of the fish being caught is nothing short of epic. The main reason for the high success rate is the cooler weather which has kept fish both active and shallow. Look for active fish in shallow weedy areas, especially the flat areas of coves and bays. A variety of lures will catch these fish, but a rule of thumb is to go a little smaller than you might otherwise. Some nice fish are coming on swimbaits, bucktails and shad style baits (lipless crankbaits or shallow divers). Perch, White and Black and orange have all been the hot colors on Okauchee and Pewaukee with greens and firetiger producing on Fowler, Oconomowoc and Lac Labelle.

Northern Pike fishing is steady. With so many musky roaming the shallow flats, most of the pike appear to have pulled out to the first breakline. If you're targeting pike, try to find weed growth in 8-15 feet of water and then fish the deep edges of those weeds with suckers or shiners, or cast spinnerbaits or wide-wobbling crankbaits. Moose, Kessus, Fowler, Lower Nehmabin, Lower Genessee, Nagawicka, Golden and Okauchee lakes have had steady pike action.

Walleye fishing has also been steady, but a mayfly hatch is imminent and that will probably shut them down for a bit. Trolling with bottom bouncers and live bait rigs is producing most days, but on the very sunny/high pressure days jigging or rigging the weededges has also been productive. Look for fish to be in 6-12 feet of water before pulling out deep. You might be surprised how shallow they are. Pine, Lac Labelle, and Lake Koshkonong have all been active.

Bass fishing is really good right now. Most of the fish are moving into the shallow water to feed and spawn. You'll likely see nests in the very shallow water. Pier fishing is really turning on as the bass use the docks for overhead cover, but also look for fish in the shallow weeds or around fallen timber or stumps. Just about any plastics will catch them right now, but dial in with wacky rigs, jigworms, jig and chunk trailers or plastic lizards. Texas or florida rigged plastics flipped around pier posts will produce most days, but remember to continue to fish slow as water temps are below average for this time of year. As for lakes, just about any will give up fish right now, but Okauchee, Nagawicka, Pine and Moose have all been very good lately.

Crappie are spawning on many area lakes. Look for them around reeds, weed clumps or shallow wood. Slow, quiet approaches with minnows or plastics tipped with waxworms can really produce right now. Golden, Nagawicka, Okauchee, Pine, Ashippunn, and Lower Nehmabin have been producing.

Good Luck!
CT

Tuesday Night Winner

Here's some picture's of the 5.64lb Largemouth that came in Tuesday Night

Fishing=Good

A relatively easy to understand equation, but right now, fishing is fantastic.

Oconomowoc, Okauchee, Lac Labelle and Pewaukee have all been on fire for musky. With the WMT in town this weekend, we may see some huge fish caught on our local waters. The majority of the fish have not left the shallow areas, and are feeding aggresively. Lots of high 30 to mid 40 inch fish are being caught, with a few reported to be in the high fourty range.

Bass fishing is absolutely on fire. The largemouths are making the move to spawn, but the big females are still in a pre-spawn mode on most area lakes. Smallmouth fishing is picking up as the water temperatures rise as well.

Walleye fishing has been steady, but with a mayfly hatch imminent, the bite may be dropping off a bit.

Crappie continue to bite, and bluegills are starting to move onto the shallow to mid depth flats.

Stop by the shop and get on the water....its time to fish!
CT

Another big week....

Tuesday night Big Bass League Results: Week 2

1st Dale Pavey 5.64#
2nd John Smid 4.96#
3rd Mike Pyritz 4.94 #
60 people fished, 9 for the first time.
32 anglers brought in fish.


That's some fantastic fishing right there. Lots of quality 3lb fish were brought in. This hot spring bite will continue for another 10-15 days. It's time to hit the water.

Fishing Report: 5-7-09

Looks to be a nice weekend ahead. I expect alot of people to be hitting the water. If you're one of them, here's what to expect on our local lakes.

High water and water temps in the high 50s to mid 60's. In other words, prime time for shallow water fishing.

Musky have been biting and chasing aggressively. Look for them in areas with scattered weedgrowth. You can find fish deep, but the active fish are feeding up after the spawn, and are patrolling the shallow weed flats, rock points and sandy areas for food. Natural colors, like perch or shiner, or straight black have been working, and lots of nice fish are being caught. Work an area fully, don't be afraid to take your foot off that trolling motor pedal and make repeated casts to fishy looking areas. It never hurts to have a sucker out while casting, many fish that follow a bait in will convert on a boatside sucker rig this time of year. Pewaukee is giving up fish, but Okauchee has been on fire since the opener. Also consider Oconomowoc, Folwer and Lac Labelle.

Northern pike are doing many of the same things that the musky are doing, they are just out a little deeper. Look for weeds in8-12 feet of water, then fish them hard with spinner or buzzbaits. A small sucker or large golden shiner on a slip sinker rig will also produce. Okauchee, Moose, Fowler, Lower Genessee, Kessus, Nagawicka and Golden Lakes have had pike action.

Bass fishing is set for an all time great this weekend. The perfect water temperatures for a pre-spawn bite mixed with the full moon period means trophy fishing opportunities await you this weekend. Look for bass in shallow water near weeds or wood laydowns. The piers will hold fish as well. Wacky worms, tube baits jig and chunks, floating worms, and large texas rigged plastics are all great options, but also consider shallow running crankbaits or buzzbaits. For live bait, nightcrawlers on a split shot rig or large shiners under a float/bobber are the best options. All area lakes will have active largemouth bass this weekend, but focus your attention on the really good ones: Okauchee, Moose, Golden, Silver, Pine, Nagawicka, Garvin and Lower Nehmabin.

Walleye: Look for walleyes on mid depth structure or in the shallow weeds. Some fish will be patrolling the shallows for baitfish. You can catch walleyes on crankbaits, but this is prime season for live bait presentations. Jig and minnow, jig and leech, or lindy rigs with nightcrawlers or leeches will produce, especially early and late in the day. Trolling with bottom bouncers or lindy's can help you to locate fish. Try Pine, Lac Labelle, Fox, and Oconomowoc lakes for walleyes.

Trout: Stocked trout are still available on some area lakes. You need an inland trout stamp to fish for or possess these trout, but they can be taken easily on live bait (minnows or redworms) or with small in-line spinners. Look for them in the deepest holes of the smaller lakes. Watch your electronics, if you see a school of fish suspended, chances are that these are the trout. Slip bobber or vertically tight line just above them. Fowler, Lower Nashotah, Ottawa and Lower Genessee offer your best opportunities.

Panfish: Crappie action continues to be good on many area lakes. Look for fish to start to move into the reeds or onto shallow wood this week. Until then, look for schools of crappies in the shallow, dark bottomed bays or boat channels near green weeds. Tailhooked minnows below a bobber will always produce, but keep a second rod rigged with a plastic tipped with a waxworm or spike out. Some days the plastic/grub combo has been outproducing the minnows, especially for larger fish. Bluegills are starting to come in shallow, but a good number of fish are still in water as deep as 15 feet. If this weather stays consistent, the bluegills will start moving in to stage for the spawn, but this hasn't happened in any significant number as of yet.

----
Other Information:

Fowler and Lac Labelle are still slow no wake until further notice. The launch at Lac Labelle is flooded out, and the launching piers are under the water.

I'll be at Musky Mikes this Saturday from 5am to 11am. Stop in and say hello.

Good Luck
CT-

Big Bass League: Week 1 Results

Musky Mike's Tuesday Night Big Bass League Results: WEEK 1

60 anglers, big bass was 4.58 lbs with 4.52 in second, 4.12 for third. 33 Anglers brought in fish.

A competitive night as lots of 2.5-3.5 lb fish were brought in.

See you next week!

Big Bass League

Tonight is our first week of Tuesday night big bass league for 2009. As in years past, I'll make a prediction each week. The over/under is universally 4lbs to win.

This week, I'll take the over. I think a very large fish may come to the scales tonight, and I think alot of fish will be caught this week. The fish are in a full on prespawn mode, and while there has been an absence of nesting fish so far, the bigger fish are definitely making a move into the traditional areas.

I'd say it'll be better than 4.5 pounds to win tonight, with at least one 4 pound fish out of the top three slots.

Join us tonight. Sign up at the shop by 5:30 and meet at the new takeoff point: Point Comfort on the channel.

CT

Opening Weekend

The nice weather brought quite a few people out for the opener. Fishing was better on Sunday, but we received lots of positive reports from the weekend.

Several muskies were caught, including a 49" incher on Okauchee. It's just a sign of what I was discussing prior to the season, a monster Musky is going to come out of Okauchee this season.

Water temps are creeping up into the mid 50's to low 60's, especially in the protected shallow bays. Fishing will really pick up the next week to 10 days.

Tuesday is the first week of Musky Mike's Big Bass League. Register at the shop by 5:30, and take off point is now Point Comfort.

See you on the water.
CT

Fowler and Lac Labelle

Are slow no wake until further notice. Stay tuned for update.