Wisconsin Statewide Fishing report 5.3.12Wisconsins general inland game fish season opens this Saturday and state fisheries managers say the early spring that arrived this year should result in some excellent fishing conditions for anglers. In the north, ice-out was early and water temperatures have climbed into the low to mid-50 degree range even on northern lakes. Most lakes across the north are about three to four weeks past the main walleye spawning period, so the fish should be fully recovered and getting back to active feeding. Northern pike should also have recovered from their annual spawning ritual and look for them to be active near any new green weeds that are starting to grow in the shallows. In addition, crappie, bluegill and perch have been starting to get active near the shallow and warm bays
Walleye fishing activity was picking up on Lake Winnebago, which is open all year to walleye fishing, and limits of fish were being caught by anglers. Lake flies have emerged along the shoreline and while these flies can be a nuisance they are non-biting and harmless, and are an important food source for sturgeon and other fish. The walleye bite has also been exceptional so far this year on the upper Fox and Wolf rivers.
Water levels have been coming up on the Mississippi River with the recent rains. Fishing has been slow in some areas but picking up in others. Anglers were still catching a fair number of northern pike and smallmouth bass action seems to be picking up near La Crosse and Genoa, but walleye action has been slower.
As boaters head out for the opener this weekend, conservation wardens are reminding them to check safety equipment. This includes a life jacket for each person on board, make sure batteries are covered and tied down, and that navigation lights working. Musky season opens May 5 in the southern zone and new this year the statewide minimum length limit has increased to 40 inches from 34 in order to help boost natural reproduction. Fisheries managers are also reminding people to help keep Wisconsin fish and lakes healthy by following rules to avoid spreading the VHS fish disease and aquatic invasive species like Eurasian water-milfoil and zebra mussels.
Bayfield County Panfish activity has picked unusually early this year on inland lakes, with many bag limits of crappie and bluegill reported on the southern Bayfield County inland lakes. Lake Namekagon was a popular spot this past week, but fishing activity on smaller inland lakes has been good to excellent as well. Favorite baits this week were either minnows or crappie ?Slurppies," an artificial bait. But when they are biting this well ,just about any bait works.
Douglas County The water temperatures have not warmed as fast as the early spring would have led everyone to believe, because of cold nights in the area over the last few weeks. Fish are still ahead of their normal schedule and should provide some good fishing for the opener. Boaters are reminded to be sure to have proper safety equipment and life jackets on their boats and to insure they are accessible.
Iron County The Gile Flowage and the Turtle Flambeau Flowage look very good for the opener; as usual lots of campers are expected on the flowages. Turkey hunters are finding some birds, but they seem quiet and are with hens. The 13th annual kids fishing day will be held May 5 from 9 a.m. to noon at Weber lake. Each year Conservation Warden John Windt gives out 50 rod and reel combos to area youth. The event is sponsored by the Snowbelt Long beards Turkey chapter, the Superior Bass Fishing Club, along with the Saxon Harbor Boat Club, All Pro Marine, Iron County Forestry Department, Giovanoni's True Value Hardware, and Bayfield Electric Company. On average more than 300 fishermen and fisherwomen attend the event. Food and soft drinks and prizes are given to all who attend.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) Opening day anglers should find some excellent conditions for the start of the fishing season on Saturday. Water temperatures have climbed into the low to mid-50 degree range and lake levels are about normal. Most lakes across the north are about three to four weeks past the main walleye spawning period, so the fish should be fully recovered and getting back to active feeding. Walleye anglers should find their best luck in the early morning and late evening hours and live bait will likely produce the best action. Water temperatures are still on the cold side so a slower presentation may also be in order. Northern pike should also have recovered from their annual spawning ritual and look for them to be active near any new green weeds that are starting to grow in the shallows. In addition, crappie, bluegill and perch have been starting to get active near the shallow and warm bays, and they can provide anglers with plenty of action during the daytime hours when walleye action may be slow. The DNR has been actively planting trout for the past few weeks and most of the stocked trout lakes and spring ponds should provide some excellent fishing for opening weekend. Stream and river levels are generally low for this time of year but should be fully accessible for both anglers and recreationalists. One caution - black flies have begun to hatch out and can be a major irritant to outdoor enthusiasts.
Vilas County Fishing season opens this weekend and most lakes will be holding walleyes in their post spawn locations. Turkey hunters around the Boulder Junction area are finding some success. Turkeys are scattered across the area and move around a lot from day to day. Scouting is the name of the game to be successful in harvesting a bird in this area. Toms and a lot of jakes have been seen roaming around following hens. Anglers are actively trying to find some crappies and perch and have been having some luck by keeping it simple with a hook and worm. Suckers have been seen near creek culverts during daytime hours. Nights have been very cool this spring and for the most part it has been very dry. Rain is in the forecast this week.
Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area There will be ample opportunities for anglers fishing the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage during this weekend?s fishing opener. Walleyes completed spawning on the flowage a couple weeks ago, so although some fish (most likely smaller males) may still be near the shallow, rocky spawning areas, the majority will likely be looking for prey in a wide variety of habitats. Find the food, find the walleye. Northern pike are also in relatively high numbers on the flowage, and they should be found fairly aggressive even in very shallow water. Crappies have not yet spawned, but should be found staging in areas near their shallow-water spawning habitats. Surface water temperatures have remained in the low 50s for a couple weeks now, so the warming that will occur with the current weather pattern may trigger an increase in fish activity. Currently, the flowage is 1.3 feet below full pool. If the rain in the forecast arrives, it should help raise the water level some.
Oneida County Lake levels are in good shape for the most part, and panfish have been quite active. For those who enjoy a good hike, the weather has been nice and very few insects to worry about. With rain in the forecast, trees should be leafing out quickly with a green canopy by the fishing opener.
Peshtigo Cool weather and windy days kept many anglers off the water. Fishing pressure was light this week with water temperatures in the upper 40s to low 50s.
Marinette County Pike, smallmouth bass, and some walleye were being caught at the mouth of the Peshtigo River, both trolling crawler/harness and using stick baits and plastics fishing from shore. Menominee River anglers have been catching a few walleye mostly during periods of low light jigging the Turn Basin with minnows or trolling with crawler/harness and stick baits. Hattie Street anglers were catching a few walleye early mornings and evenings from the anglers's walkway to Stephenson Island. Crappies are starting to bite on Lake Noquebay.
Oconto County Bluegill and crappie were still being caught at the Stiles Dam on garden tackle and slip bobbers. Some smallmouth bass were also showing up and responding well to plastics. Northern pike and bass make up the brunt of fish being caught on the Pensaukee River with stick baits and jigs working well. The walleye bite out of Oconto Breakwater Park and Oconto Park II has picked up in the last week, with one boat reporting more than 20 walleye being caught fishing in 8 to 10 feet of water trolling crawler/harness and stick baits. Oconto Park II is being dredged and will be ready for opening day.
Shawano County Fishing success on the Wolf River has been fair. Shawano Lake should provide some great opportunities for bass fishing for opening weekend. As water temperatures warm bluegill fishing success should increase.
Manitowoc County Fishing pressure is relatively low in the area because of high winds and cool water temperatures. On Lake Michigan, stong winds and cold morning temperatures have limited time on the water for many anglers out of Manitowoc and Two Rivers. Boats that have gone out are having some success. Surface temperatures were in the upper 40 degree range. There were reports of anglers catching kings and brown trout in as little as 15 feet of water north of Two Rivers. South of Manitowoc boats were setting up in 100 to 150 feet of water and generally catching kings, rainbows, browns, and occasional lake trout in the bottom half of the water column. Lures catching the most fish include flashers with flies and also spoons. If trolling shallower, stick baits were still effective. Anglers were still catching browns in shallower waters around the Manitowoc area. The bite has slowed down considerably off the piers and harbor. Anglers are occasionally catching brown trout with spoons. The wind is making water clarity a problem. The steelhead run is over on tributaries and catches have been rare for this species. Water temperatures are still quite cool, in the low to mid-50s, though most fished spawned during March?s warm snap and headed back to the lake. There has been some nice channel catfish caught as well as a few northern pike and smallmouth bass. Some anglers have been targeting carp and catching some very large fish. With warmer water temperatures panfish should become active in shallow water on inland lakes. The best places to look for fish are near docks, heavy vegetation, or in dark bottom areas that warm rapidly.
Door County Windy weather continued to dominate most of the week keeping fishing pressure in the northern part of the county relatively low. The Sturgeon Bay area did see a bit of increase in activity with quite a few boats being launched at the City Dock and Ole Stone Quarry Ramp. The cool night time temperatures and windy weather kept water temperatures near shore in the 42-46 degree range. Shore anglers have reported success casting with swim and stick baits, and live baits for northern pike around the peninsula, including the ship canal. Boat anglers are continuing to pressure brown trout with most success reported on stick baits. Evening walleye pressure continues with stick and jerk baits as the lures of choice. At the end of the week, it was sunny and getting warmer. There was good fishing activity on Little Sturgeon Bay. Anglers caught three northern pike. They ranged from 25 1/2 inches to 30 3/4 inches and weighed 4.2 to 6.5 pounds. Artificial bait was the bait of choice and the surface temperature ranged from 48 degrees to 53 degrees. The northern were caught in water depths from 3 feet to 10 feet. Another angler was out and caught 11 walleye, all released. It was busy over the weekend at Little Sturgeon Bay. There were boat trailers coming and going all morning. Two walleye and one northern pike were caught and kept. The walleyes measured at 23 3/8 inches and 5.5 pounds and 25 1/2 inches and 7.5 pounds. The northern measured at 26 1/2 inches and weighed 4.2 pounds. Crank bait was the most used bait and the fish were caught in about 8 feet of water. Beginning of the week was quiet at Chaudoir's Dock and Bayshore Park. By the middle of the week, there was a little fishing activity at Bayshore Park. One group caught and released two walleye on crank bait in about 13 to 14 feet of water. The surface temperature was about 49 degrees. On the weekend, fishing activity picked up at Chaudoir's dock, with several boats going out in the morning. Over at Bayshore Park one angler caught a 20.5-inch, 3.2-pound walleye in about 17 feet of water. It was quiet at Sawyer Harbor, Sugar Creek, Fish Haven, and Red River all week and weekend.
Calumet County Walleye fishing activity is starting to pick up along the east shore of Lake Winnebago. Limits of fish were being caught by anglers who are trolling artificial lures in 10 to 15 feet of water. Anglers are reminded to properly identify sauger that are caught on the lake. Anglers who venture out on Lake Winnebago should carry a pair of safety glasses for their boat ride as thousands of lake-flies have emerged along the shoreline.
Winnebago County The walleye bite has been exceptional thus far this year. Anglers did real well targeting pre-spawn walleye on the upper Fox and Wolf rivers during the month of March, and the post-spawn bite has been just as productive. Angler tag return data from harvested fish indicate that nice walleye are being harvested throughout the Winnebago System, as far up the Wolf River as Shiocton all the way down to Lake Winnebago. Most of the fish being caught this year are of nice size (16-20 inches) and are representatives of the very abundant 2008 year class. This year class supported the majority of the fishery last year and is the second largest year class of walleye documented on the Winnebago System dating back to 1986. The 2012 sturgeon spawning run will go down in history as a record breaking event. Well above average water temperatures in March led to sturgeon spawning earlier than ever documented, with the first fish being tagged in New London on March 21. Previous to this year, there had never even been sturgeon spawning documented in the month of March. The record breaking did not end there though, as the last fish handled on March 10 was an 87.5-inch female lake sturgeon that was estimated to weigh 240 pounds. All together crews were able to handle and release 1,762 sturgeon, 236 of which were females (the most females that we have ever handled in one year during spring tagging). Through a cooperative effort with the Menominee Indian Tribe, DNR biologists were able to document sturgeon spawning at Keshena Falls for the first time in over 100 years. Through fish transfers conducted during three different time periods within the last year 100 sturgeon were released into the upper Wolf River on the Menominee Indian Reservation.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County Trollers in Sheboygan have been catching a mixed bag of chinook and coho salmon, and brown and lake trout in 25 to 35 feet of water using spoons of various colors. Fishing off the Sheboygan piers has been slow. The Sheboygan and Pigeon rivers have relatively high flows and temperatures in the mid-40s. There has been minimal fishing effort on both rivers.
Ozaukee County Fishing pressure has been relatively low in Port Washington. A few boaters have been successful catching coho, chinook, browns, and rainbows in 120 to 180 feet of water. Dodgers and flies have been most effective. Anglers fishing off the pier in Port have been catching a mix of browns, coho, and chinooks, along with a few whitefish and burbot. Alewives have taken the most fish. Sauk Creek has high water after rain late last week, and the average temperature is 44 degrees.
Milwaukee County In Milwaukee, when the winds are light brown trout have been caught in the harbor, between the gaps and outside the breakwall on dark colored spoons, including blue and green. A few coho have also been picked up with similar presentations. The shoreline along Summerfest has been producing some browns with the most successful anglers using minnows and spawn sacs, with a few additional fish being caught on spoons. Those anglers trying for perch have a picked up only a few on minnows fished on the bottom. Shore fishing at Jones Island has been slow. Anglers on McKinley pier have picked up a few brown trout while casting spoons or fishing with minnows. A few browns have also been caught on the Grant Park pier.
Racine County In Racine strong east winds have limited the number of successful fishing trips over recent days. Those fishing from shore have had their best luck casting chartreuse spoons in the harbor, but their success rate has been low. No trollers have been seen fishing due to strong east winds that have brought high wave action and kept the clarity of the water very low. On the Root River Recent rainfalls have the water at a moderate to dirty water clarity along with water temperatures hovering between 52-54 degrees. Upstream of the Root River Steelhead Facility about half a dozen anglers were seen fishing for steelhead with a few fish being landed, but success is still low. A few smallmouth bass were being reported caught in some of the deeper holes in the river as well.
Grant County Mississippi Water levels are higher and steady, due to the recent rainfalls. The new boat launching docks have finally been put in place at the recently completed Wyalusing beach public boat landing. The docks are also in place at all the public and private boat landings in pools 10 and 11. Fishing has been slow on the Mississippi River; water temperatures have dropped to 51 degrees. A few bluegills, and both largemouth and smallmouth bass were biting below the lock and Dam 10 spillway. Ten- to -13-inch bass were providing for a bit of catch and release fishing when few other fish are biting. Fishing was also slow in Pool 12 and O Leary lake, with a few bluegills and perch being caught in O Leary Lake. Small panfish were being caught, and some yellow perch were biting on the Wisconsin River. The trout streams are running pretty clear again, since there has only been about 0.3 inch of rain since the big storm on April 20.
Richland County Streams in the area remain muddy as rain is predicted throughout the week. People fishing trout the opener will find the best stream conditions toward the upper end of the stream.
La Crosse County Fishing has been picking up on Pools 7 and 8 of the Mississippi River. Anglers were still catching a fair number of northern pike and a large number of bass. Smallmouth bass action seems to be picking up and the bluegill bite is getting better every day. Anglers were catching lots of bluegills on worms. Some walleyes were being caught on minnows and hair jigs.
Vernon County Northern Pike and bluegills were being caught on Pool 9 of the Mississippi River. Crappies were being caught on Jersey Valley Lake. Bass and northern pike were being caught on near Genoa. A few walleyes were being caught, but fishing has been slow. Individuals are catching saugers, but the saugers are small with the average size between 10 to 14 inches. Some nice bluegills were caught below the Genoa dam. With water temperature near the mid 50s, the crappie bite shouldn't be too far off, with some crappies being caught at Jersey Valley.
Trempealeau County The early catch and release season for trout is now closed. The regular trout season will open with the fishing opener on May 5. Small spinner baits and night crawlers are effective during the early days of the regular trout season. Be sure to ask permission to cross private lands. Anglers on the Mississippi River are reporting that bass have been very active in the shallows and back waters. Large spinner baits have been most effective. Anglers are also reporting mixed action on northern pike by casting crank baits in the shallow waters. The season for game fish is open year-round on Mississippi River waters, which are defined in the fishing regulation book as the waters inside of the railroad tracks on each side of the river.
Chippewa County The woods and fields have really greened-up over the past week. The cooler weather has taken a toll on fishing activity. The panfish have been pretty slow but catfish anglers have been having good success.
Eau Claire County Early season trout anglers were doing pretty well the last part of April. Steam levels were down and ideal for fishing. The early season is now closed.
Marathon County River flows on the Wisconsin River in central Wisconsin are at normal levels. Now is the time to sign up for boater safety classes being offered in Marathon County.
Minocqua area fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/minocquafishingreport.htm
Lake Michigan Fishing Report and tips
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/lmfishingtips.htm
Wausau Area fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/wisconsinriverfishingreport.htm
Chippewa Flowage fishing report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/chippewaflowagefishingreport.htm
Information compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
