Your Wisconsin Outdoor Community

Price County Winter Trail Report 3/5/10
   
As of Friday, March 5, snowmobile trails are open and in poor to good condition. The trails have been groomed but conditions are deteriorating rapidly with the warm, sunny weather. Trails in the woods are rideable, but it may be a challenge getting to them. Snow cover is diminishing in open areas exposed to sun, especially on road routes and near town. There are some bare areas from logging operations, so please slow down and use caution whenever you see signs on the trail that say  "Logging Ahead" or "Trucks Hauling". At intersection 97A north of Prentice, due to a logging operation the trail is bare (but fairly smooth) in all directions for a short distance. Riding new trail (#94) is not recommended at this time.  This trail connects Trail #102 at Three Mile Corner to Catawba area Trail #80 a couple miles north of trail #181/16. Highs are predicted to be near 40 through the weekend with lows below freezing at night; so the best time to go for a ride is in the morning. Price County snowmobile trails remain open through March 31.

 Price County?s nine cross-country ski trails are groomed with most in fair to good condition. Visit our website for detailed information on specific trails at www.pricecountywi.net.


 http://www.pricecountywi.net/trailconditions.html
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/snow.htm

It is snowing lightly today. Warm weather and sun has taken its toll on the trails. At Best they are "good" in the shaded areas, "fair" where they are exposed to the sun. The temps are forecasted to be a bit cooler this week. We need 4-5" new snow to get our trail conditions back up where they should be. I am heading north today and will report back tue or wed. Think snow. Its too early for Spring.
Barry Hopkins <peapatch@centurytel.net>
- Monday, February 22, 2010 at 10:51:45 (PST)

http://www.upnorthsnow.com/snowmobilemanitowishwaterswisconsin.htm

http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/snow.htm

The Snow Bunnies Weekly Snow Report
   
Trails have been reported to be showing late season conditions, with many bare spots and ice. The Namakagon groomer did groom over the weekend preparing the trails if we do receive more snow. Conditions are currently rated to be poor with possibilities of closing the trails in the near future. Lakes are still firm, but unseasonably warm temperatures are in the forecast. If you do ride the lakes, stay to the stick trail and use road overpasses instead of traveling under bridges.

Thanks for a great snowmobile season!




 
http://www.cable4fun.com  
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/snow.htm

Fishing Milwaukee Early Risers Catch Trophy Brown Trout

By Capt. Jim Hirt

In this article we will continue with successful methods of catching trophy fish. I would like to explore location, presentation and lure selection for Brown Trout. This is a virtual untapped resource on Lake Michigan. Most anglers get hung up on salmon fishing and ignore big Bulldog Brown Trout. Once you have an opportunity to hook up with a fish that is almost as big around as he is long you will be back for more. Footballs, as we like to call them, are only about 3% of the catch out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The lack of popularity and pressure puts you in a great position to boat a real wall hanger. This unique specie has two strains the Domestic or German and the Seeforellen. The bigger of the two is the Seeforellen with the state record at 36.5 pounds. I have landed German Browns over 20 pounds. This is definitely a trophy in any anglers book. Where there are similarities in the two species on temperature preference the biggest difference is location. Domestic are more of a near shore fish and Seeforellens are a pelagic specie found suspended in deeper water.

Please allow me to give you an overview of the optimum conditions for predictable success. All the weather factors discussed in the last article pertain to Browns as well. They are always more active at first light and last light of the day. Heavy overcast days afford some of the best opportunities for lunkers

Temperature is as important in producing Browns as it is for any other fish. I work water that is 60 to 63 degrees when it is available. The month of April is known for easy pickings on all size Browns. When the lake has not warmed up to the preferred temp for Browns, look for them at mouths of rivers, harbors, protected bays and power plant discharges that offer water above the lake temp. A temperature gauge is a tool all fishermen cannot be without.

A stealthy approach is necessary for the biggest fish. In definition stealthy is a presentation that avoids being notice. Several that can be used are trolling downriggers with leads to 100 feet or more and leadcore is another good choice. Most of the time you will find working shallow water less than 40 feet is key to domestic brown success. In the clear shallow water a normal presentation will generally not produce.

Mid summer is the best time to locate Seeforellens in deep water. Find a sharp break in temperature from the colder lake water to 60 to 63 degrees and present your tackle in temperature they prefer. These breaks above colder water are the best place to locate trophy fish. Presentation will remain the same get away from the boat in water undisturbed. I have one more presentation that you may find easier to work especially in shallow water. Fish the surface down to fifteen feet with planer Boards. Some of your choices are, Yellow Birds, Church, Off Shore and Riviera. Im a little hesitant to recommend a particular brand because what works for me may not work for you. I will say I find it easier to run a small board on each line rather than a large board with releases on the towline. I do feel it is important to run all the same type to get a presentation that is easy and productive. The clear surface water leaves you with a visibility factor to consider. I run a 1/4 to 1 ounce bead chain trolling sinker at the end of the 20-25lb mono to avoid line twists and get the depth I want. From the sinker to the lure I use 8ft of a 12lb mono and a small round cross lock snap. When the fish hits, the board slides down to the trolling sinker. With the sinker in line, the board will not knock the fish off as it would if it ran down to the lure. When setting this presentation, I set my boat speed at 2 mph and let out my lure about 30 to 100 feet and attach the board. This distance will change with the amount of light, type of lure and depth you want to fish. When action is slow, adjust this distance and see what happens. Once the board is attached, carefully lower the board into the water and let out enough line to allow room for more boards, between that board and the boat. Boards should be spaced about 30 feet apart. When a fish hits, the board releases and it will drop back behind the boat. Land your fish and reset this board by letting out enough line to allow the board to fly back into the same spot it came from.

Let's wrap this up with my favorite Brown Trout lures. Spoons are my first choice with crankbaits and minnow type lures a close second. Always consider the size of the baitfish and amount of light in the time period you are fishing. When fishing in bright conditions or with the presence of small baitfish go to regular or small lures. Run the magnum spoons in low light situations. The two most productive Brown Trout spoons for me in recent years are the glow in the dark Vulcan and Reaper both sold by Badgertackle.com The silver/blue Vulcan has also been a regular producer. The shore fishermen are also having good success with this lure. I will continue with trophy variables for Rainbow Trout in the next article. Good Luck! Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright 2006, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved