Quarry Lake Park, Racine County (all postings)

denesox, yea obviously dirty water doesnt effect fishing and it def makes it easier to catch them, but I dont care what body your fishing, algae that bad is not the norm. I dont know if you remember when it was actually clear water or not but it was an amazing place to go. We could sight fish monster smallies. Now its so slimy you have a hard time throwing anything in there with it getting all over your baits. Ive been fishing in the south for 6 years now on Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, and other huge reserviors and dont have a problem fishing dirty water. Its pretty much all that is here! If you dont see the water quality in the quarry as horrible your blind

unless u carry in a small boat or tube, its all shore fishing.

IS THERE ANY SHORE FISHING HERE?

north end isn't a bluff, but it does slope down to over 20 feet rather quickly, the exception is the NE corner, which is a little flatter and full of brush/weeds. Its also not as consistent as one might think. Usually not one of the best places, but the occasions when its on, it can be one of the best . The best weed edges are actually right off the beach, its also the only real weed flat in the lake.

The lake has rebounded and the bass population is FAR from being in peril. Dirty water has zero negative effect on the bass, just the confidence of anglers. Truth be told, the dirty water makes these fish a lot easier to catch, especially the larger ones. Dirty water not only gives fish less chance of getting too good of a look and figuring out the offering is a set up, but it also positions the fish more predictably.

i was told years ago on the north end it doesnt drop straight off like the rest of the quarry. Guys would go in there and fish weed beds in 10-20fow and catch giant northerns. With all the local geese they keep it open most of the year. You would need some serious cold to freeze it up solid. Like I said before I personally never seen one but ya never know. Def some solid bass in there though. I just get to disgusted when I go down there about how crappy the water looks. Used to be able to see 20 plus feet down, now maybe 3-5. I was there when they had the big bass kill. Alot of nice bass laying on the beach. That was maybe 7-10 years ago. They should have rebounded since then

I've fished over at the Bong State Park(Wolf Lake) and that body of water has all the panfish species, along with Northern and Walleye. There is only one dock and it's elbow to elbow sometimes but the fish are there and that body of water is fairly shallow and not too much bigger than Quarry. The Bass action is decent but you don't want to eat those, five to seven perch or crappies make a pretty tasty supper. I will have to try a frozen smelt on the bottom, it is effective on Northerns. If I catch one I will revise my post, I didn't try it yet at Quarry.

I have heard of very nice pike being caught out of there but have never seen one myself. Years ago before the water got really nasty in there and the weeds took over we would catch some real nice smallies. Next time I go home I will see if I can find some pics. Some years guys caught some real respectable gills off the end of the dock. Largemouths are pretty nice too! Something has to be done with the over-abundance of local geese that do not leave during the winter. That is the reason the water is so messed up. I would love to take this place over and do more with it!

No pike or walleye. Never saw a crappie or perch either now that I think about it, but I also don't fish for them. The signage is standard county parks and not an exact representation of the species in the quarry.

The quarry's already basically back and will once again be world class in the future. Since the kill the bass numbers are higher then I have seen, they are all fatties and growing quick, lots of 10-15 inchers. Following the "kill" the gill numbers went through the roof, so there's tons of little guys to feed the food chain. That, along with annual stockings of trout (no better way to grow bass big, fast,) and a surprislyingly strong alewife population that keeps many big fish suspended offshore (making them difficult to find much of the time). Already some bigguns. Problem for most is the considerable depth and limited access to the prime areas, as well as the aforementioned tendency for the big fish to suspend.

mr. canepole, turn on your PM

I was referring to the Steelhead, Coho, and King Salmon in the Root River; that is right next to Quarry Lake. There are trout in the lake, I've only caught them in the 9 to 11 inch range.

I looked at the website that the post suggested and there have not been any of the species I mentioned placed in this body of water. I personally like panfishing from shore, and end up going to the Madison chain. Gas is so expensive that it would be nice to be able to get similar bites w/o leaving town.

In the Fall it is a different story after the rains and the fish begin running, you definitely get your monies worth with the trout stamp then. My first time fishing for trout and I caught a King. It was a big male and when I finally got it to shore another fisherman took a picture with me and my son.

I used to fish this as a kid. What size of trout are in there now and do they live through the summer?

Thank you for the information. I believe our local and state agencies do a fabulous job with our resources. It's just that the area could be utilized as much as Tenney Park in Madsion, as well as be a first class panfish fishery. We get visitors from all over the world for the salmonoid fishing. Tight Lines To All.

Mr Canepole check out this link.

http://infotrek.er.usgs.gov/doc/wdnr_biology/Public_Stocking/StateMapHotspotsAllYears.htm

It has all the stocking for all body's of water in WI done by the DNR

It is under Unnamed Lake or Pond T3N-R23E-S6

Is it possible to find out the last time that this body of water was stocked with (Perch, Crappie, Walleye, and Northern)? I have never seen anyone of these species caught, nor caught any of them myself in 9 years.

The bluegill, trout and bass are plentiful near the drop offs. A few fish boxes near the dock area and removing the weeds along the the lake like in Madison, would also be nice. This body of water just needs a little TLC. The dock needs to be replaced, some of the boards are dangerous. Hopefully, we can make this a first class fishery.

There was a huge die off of fish several years ago, hopefully the lake is making a comeback somewhat by now.