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2012 Articles

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February 2012

Catch Walleyes All Winter by Jason Mitchell
Many ice anglers associate the end of January and beginning of February with mid winter doldrums. Many anglers believe that first ice and late ice is the best ice for fishing and the in between ice… not so good. There is some truth to the midwinter doldrums particularly with smaller lakes. Now not to say a lake less than five hundred acres cannot be red hot in the middle of winter because they can but smaller water does seem more sensitive to a few factors that can ruin a bite. My own personal opinion, I believe some small lakes just get hit and as the fish get caught, the fishing gets tougher because fish bite better when they are competing against more neighbors. Remove half the fish ... more
When you're ice-fishing, just like when you're open water fishing, there are days when the fish get finicky. They might be finicky due to weather conditions, or it could be fishing pressure that has them closed-mouthed. Whatever the reason, just like in open water, there are some things you can do to get fish under the ice to bite even when they don't want to. Here are some of those things. When fishing pressure is the cause for the fish to get selective, you have a couple of options. Probably the best option is to get away from the pressure. If the lake you're on has a lot of people fishing the community hole, get away from the community hole. You can move to the edge of the activi... more
Ghosts of the Lake by Noel Vick
With Brian "Bro" Brosdahl Few see them. Others either dismiss the sightings as hooey or are cursed to believe but never catch even a fleeting glimpse of one. These, you might call freshwater poltergeists, can be as common as the ghosts of missing mariners on pirate vessels, but still scarcely witnessed. Believers see them. Brian "Bro" Brosdahl sees them, and then catches them like genies in a bottle. Bro is haunted by humungous panfish. They keep him awake at night. Cause him to swerve to the shoulder daydreaming on the way to find them. Difference between Bro and other ghost hunters, though, is his success rate. Bro captures them on hook and on film. And then like any steward of blueg... more
Late Ice, Little Tigers by Tom Neustrom
Late winter brings about opportunities. Certain species begin lining up like 2-for1 day at "Old Country Buffet." Yellow perch, in particular, become extremely active during the final weeks of the ice season. Some real monster perch get stuck this time of the year, and I'm not talking the thumbs down size, but the 10, 12, and 14-inchers we crave to catch. These egg-laden chubos cruise mud flats and weedbeds devouring about anything that crosses their paths. For the angler, mobility is the key to finding schools of these marauding perch, most encounters happening in anywhere from 10 to 30-feet of water. Consequently, you need to be flexible and diligent in your searching scheme. But once lo... more
Mother Nature has made little ice this past week but those waters which wear winter lids haven't lost ice since the Packer's season melted away. Days are getting longer. Come Superbowl Sunday we will be playing the back nine of winter-as least from a fish activity perspective. On those lakes with 'safe' ice fish are in mid-winter pattern. Essentially this means active biting at dawn, dusk and when weather is passing through. At other times the fish may swim up and lick the frosting but are not eager to eat the cake. A small amount of oatmeal laced with Berkley Gulp can trigger a brief feeding frenzy as it waffles down through the water column below your hole. This invasion w... more
Nowhere in Wisconsin do anglers look forward to ice with greater anticipation than around the shores of Lake Winnebago and its sister lakes, Poygan, Winneconne and Butte des Morts. As soon as there is a three-inch shell on one of these lakes, they start to venture out. Most anglers are anxious to get through the first-ice flurry of near-shore, walk-on fishing so they can settle down to winter's main event: tube-fishing for walleyes. I was introduced to tube fishing by Joel Taylor, of Omro, who spends nearly every day on the ice. Because he fishes so often, Taylor finds walleyes, and other anglers find him. If he wants to fish alone, he has to resort to borrowing a shack or vehicle from a... more

January 2012

Bait with Bite by Mitch Eagan
More anglers than you'd think eat bait. Not because they have to as a result of today's hard economic times, but simply because they want to. Now I'm not talking nibbling on waxies and grated white cheddar sprinkled over a wheat wafer, but instead, gorging on a main course of succulent smelt after an evening of intentionally targeting these fanged torpedoes through the ice. It's all because smelt-the very silvery-sided forage that pack the bellies of popular predator fish like pike, walleye and trout-is a delicacy for any angler who bears taste buds. Their flesh is sweet, yet mild in flavor. (The smelt, not the fisherman.) Snip; slit; scrape; rinse; repeat. The process for cleaning sm... more
Bizarro World Walleyes by Ted Pilgrim
Written with Tony Boshold Redefining "Classic" Ice Fisheries Some of the best walleye fishing you can imagine is occurring in places you might never think to look. Historic numbers of fish up to 10-pounds, even larger, are today living and thriving in lakes and reservoirs that only five years back were nearly empty of these coveted freshwater animals. In the scope of the past two to three decades, given all the ups and downs that have occurred within these freshwater environs, there's a new "normal" in the realm of productive walleye fisheries. The fabulous fishing has for years remained something of a secret-until now. The secret is this: Some of the best walleye waters alo... more
Break From The Pack by Foster Dennis
The subject matter I write about has always had a strong focus on education, whether it be about fish location and behavior or in presentations and the associated lures used to elicit a positive response. I would like to continue on with that theme and implore some of you (probably the majority of you) to self-educate yourselves. What I am referring to is the now all too common practice of following the crowd…particularly as it relates to ice fishing. In this case, there is no strength in numbers. Ever notice that by mid-winter on any given body of water that there are a couple of large clumps of houses tightly packed together? Do you honestly think that the majority of fish are cong... more
Northern pike typically bite all winter long, but the most consistent action for the biggest pike comes almost without fail as soon as the ice will hold an angler and his gear. Why is this so? Some say it's because cooler weather and the increased vulnerability of baitfish caused by the decline of weed cover trigger a pike feeding spree. When a lake freezes during this time, the spree continues for a week or two. Sunlight penetrates through thin, clear ice, enabling sight-feeding pike to spot food more readily now than when thick ice and snow shroud a lake's surface. Where The Pike Are Northerns prowl constantly, but their movements are somewhat predictable. In early winter, look for t... more
Just as there are a lot of ways to catch walleyes in open water, there are several very productive lure types for taking walleyes through the ice. But if a survey was taken among anglers who like to chase walleyes during the ice-fishing season, I'll bet a spoon would be the most popular lure. Spoons are popular because they produce. There are a lot of different spoons available to the ice angler, and each spoon has a characteristic of its own. Here are some ideas for using spoons to catch walleyes that are under the ice. The action of the spoon is of prime consideration. Some spoons fall fast, others have more of a fluttering action as they drop to the bottom. Both have a place in o... more
Delavan Lake is one of the finest fisheries in Southeastern, Wisconsin. This awesome fishery is playing host to Lake-Link's 2012 Ice Fishing Jamboree. The lake is an hour from Milwaukee and one and a half hours from Chicago. Delavan Lake is roughly 2100 acres with a maximum depth of 52 feet. The lake has many different fishing opportunities, whether it's deep water yellow perch or weedline walleyes. The shallow bays make available a lot of Northern Pike and bluegill action. In early February, northern pike action will be on the weed flats or on the first break of the weedline. The best depth is 6-12 feet of water. They key locations are by the outlet by North Shore Drive, the west... more

December 2011

Your boat is parked in the garage, the fluids for the motor are drained, and the trolling batteries are stowed away. The line still strung on that new reel you got for Father's Day is memorizing every coil it now has in it. But those are no reasons to let the dull days of winter get you down. Try ice fishing. It's easy, relatively inexpensive and fun. Anybody can do it. Even you! Here are my top 10 tips for getting started with "hard water" fishing. If you want ice fishing to be enjoyable, you'll need proper clothes. Don't leave home without the snow boots, snow pants, a windproof parka and a good layer of undergarments. If you're cold, you're not having fun. If you're not havi... more
First Ice Panfish by Bob Jensen
Ice-fishing is getting closer every day. For the past few days there's been a skim of ice on the pond early in the morning, but that skim has disappeared by mid-morning. Today the skim lasted until the middle of the afternoon. Once that layer of ice has a full day and night to get established, it won't be long until there will be anglers out there punching holes in the ice. I won't be the first person out there drilling holes: I wait until I see someone bigger than me out there, and, unfortunately, sometimes it's hard to find someone bigger than me. Nonetheless, when I'm convinced that the ice is thick enough, it's time to go ice-fishing. The ice gets firm on smaller ponds and lak... more
When I was a kid pancakes at Grandma's house was a Sunday tradition. I'll never forget the warm maple syrup curling out of the elephant's trunk from that antique ceramic decanter. Grandma said the elephant decanter used to belong to her grandmother, wife of a man named Shrake who served in the Union army as a civil engineer. When he mustered out of the service great, great grandpa Shrake had a hand in building one of the first bridges across the Upper Mississippi at Prairie du Chien. I grew up on the River south of there, down on pool 13. Dad used to let me take our home-made pontoon boat out alone on overnight adventures, several years before I was old enough to drive. The wildne... more
It happened again this year. I managed to get through the "fall" part of our fall turkey season without killing a bird. Wisconsin's fall turkey season runs through the end of December in five of the state's seven turkey-hunting zones. Most hunters probably gave up the idea of turkey hunting when the first half of the split season ended on Nov. 17, but I'm sure I'm not the only one left with an unfilled fall tag. In zones 1-5, the season reopened on Nov. 28, but the regulations require turkey hunters to wear blaze orange as long as a firearms deer season is in progress. It's hard enough to fool a turkey when you're dressed in camouflage from head to toe. Trying to do it in an orange h... more
Why "Live" Beats "Dead" on Ice The rodtip of the deadstick springs suddenly and energetically to life. 'Dead'stick? It seems at once a confusing mix of metaphors for a tactic so reliant on the vigor and vitality of a wild baitfish. Below the ice, dormant or just plain dead minnows take pike, maybe the occasional wintertime catfish. But hang a limp, lifeless shiner or chub before the gaping maws of a hefty walleye, and you might just as well present a wet sock on a hook. Deadstick set in a holder, a bouncing rodtip acts like a beacon, simultaneously prodding the bait to continue its underwater dance, while also pinging the lateral lines of those predators driven by flag-white tails. Tha... more

November 2011

The Mississippi is getting sleepy, easing downstream in shades of gray which mirror skies overhead. By month's end backwaters will freeze hard enough to allow tentative steps by a vanguard of bucketeers whose number will soon be legion. Last year November 24th marked the first trip out on the ice for me. It was good to see the spring bobber dance again, a welcome change from almost daily forays to the arms of mighty oaks waiting for a Booner and afternoons probing wintering holes for walleyes and saugers with clients and sometimes just for fun. Walleye location doesn't change much from Thanksgiving until early March on Pool 9. If its still possible to launch the boat and navigate tho... more
First Ice Tactics that Work by Jason Mitchell
We do much of our filming on late ice. We take a lot of our photos at late ice as well. The reason is simple, long relatively nice days on the ice where you can expect sweatshirt weather. When the sun begins to rot the ice, you can expect to get some work done if you are in the business filming television shows as you typically get good fishing and weather that doesn't freeze fingertips and camera batteries. Like many of you however, I need to get on the ice long before late ice and in all reality, first ice is just as prime of an opportunity to catch fish but the conditions might not be so romantic. The reality is that during that first ice period when we are walking on the first thr... more
The 2011 open water fishing season is starting to wind down. The chill in the early morning air reminds us that it won't be long until ice covers the waters of the Midwest. It's time to get our ice-fishing lures out. However, we're not going to be using those lures for ice-fishing. Not yet anyway. Although the open water fishing season is starting to wind down, there are still lots of open water fishing opportunities to take advantage of, and lures that are often thought of as ice-fishing lures are excellent fish catchers during the last weeks of the open water season. Here's how you can give your ice-fishing baits some extra work. There are a couple of reasons ice-fishing baits wor... more
Three pro anglers make a quiet habit of catching fish from clear waters When lakes freeze over and fishing pros Mark Martin, Mike Gofron and Mark Brumbaugh can't launch their Lund boats, you'll surely find them ice fishing the inland waters and Great Lakes near their homes. The distinguished angling trio, who reside in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio, respectfully, are surrounded by some of the clearest water in the country. These waterways have always been lucid enough to see bottom in 20 feet of water, even before the HEPA-filter-like zebra and quagga muscles invaded their way into the systems, siphoning waters even cleaner than before. "What many anglers don't realize is that catch... more
If you hunt deer with a group of friends, you are likely familiar with deer drives. Well-run drives can put a lot of venison on the meat pole. To make a drive work, standers must guard escape routes with clear and safe shooting lanes, while drivers move in concert through cover to push out deer. Do it right, and someone will usually get a shot at any deer in the cover you are hunting. Trouble is, there are too many ways to mess up a drive. If you don't have enough standers, deer can escape between them. Not enough drivers, and deer can circle back between them. If drivers get out of sync, deer can slip out to the side. And there's always the safety issue of hunters pointing guns toward... more
The best time to search for winter crappie spots is in the fall, when anglers can capitalize on the mobility of a boat and onboard sonar to cruise around marking spots mentally, preferably with GPS, too. Once the lakes freeze, though, assuming you didn't conduct autumn reconnaissance, your tools are a lake map, GPS map chip to select probable areas, and then a whole lot of exploratory hole drilling. Crappies in most lakes will already be near their winter locations by the time surface temperatures reach the low 50s, so there is a window of opportunity every year to do some homework in a boat before the upcoming ice fishing season. Every lake has a unique personality, but there are eno... more
As the end of open water fishing nears, the late fall bite becomes hot. If you can handle the cold, the fishing is some of the best of the year. During the late fall months, I enjoy walleye fishing. Most of the summer is spent fishing largemouth bass or northern pike, usually with clients it is a live bait bite. In fall the best presentation is a crank bait. Whether it's casted or trolled, success can be had by all willing to bear the cold temperatures. Different than other times of the year an angler can have success at either day or night time hours. However, I personally still find the first hour of light and dusk to be the most productive for numbers of walleyes. The two met... more
Co-authored with Tony Boshold Champion Ice Angler Discusses his Favorite 'Fish Finder' Ice fishing ace Tony Boshold sees the big picture. Give the world champion angler an auger and an underwater camera in the morning, and later that day, he'll have discovered the lion's-share of a lake's secrets. Many of the top anglers fishing the competitive ice fishing circuit these days utilize a MarCum camera-including reigning NAIFC Team-of-the-Year Champs Jacek Gawlinski and Zibi Wojcik. Yet fewer anglers than you'd think emulate Boshold and the Polish tandem - disappearing into the horizon, dipping the camera lens beneath an unending string of predrilled ice holes. That's gradually changin... more

October 2011

The formation of the decoy spread and how the pocket is positioned contributes tremendously to how birds approach and drop into the spread. Hunters as a rule worry about or place a heavy emphasis on many details that aren't nearly as important as the shape and size of the landing spot which needs to be adjusted accordingly to different situations that arise. Many hunters are familiar with the traditional horseshoe or "V" formation that creates a nice open pocket. There are many variations of this basic concept and what is most important is a hole or runway for approaching birds to land. A nice open pocket pinpoints where finished birds will attempt to land which creates a shooting op... more
Harvest Moon Walleye by John Andrew
As the water turns over (going on now) which is well under way in Vilas, Oneida and Iron County in northern WI. in the shallower lakes, the deep clear lakes will be turning quickly, Walleye are already on the bite, big time. Are we like the great lakes, no, of course not, but we do have thousands of Walleye eagerly biting, right now, for anyone who wants to learn how to catch them and it's easy, this time of year. As the thermocline continues to drop down lower and lower in your favorite lake, (if your lake is deep enough for a thermo cline) the daytime activity of the Walleye gets stronger and stronger. The tasty table fare of these fish draws a large attraction for anglers, who are... more
Many hunters apply for a fall turkey permit, then tuck it into their backtag carrier when they bowhunt for deer, just in case a flock wanders by. Others carry their turkey permit into the grouse or squirrel woods for when the action slows on one of those species, or again, just in case... A few hunters, however, relish the chance to go one-on-one with a tom when he isn't interested in hens, when he could care less what your calling sounds like, and when you can't get him to gobble away his location regardless of what breed of peacock, owl or auto horn you toot. Call me crazy, and many have, but I think fall turkey hunting is a gas. I've been foiled more often than not by fall gobblers.... more
Co-authored with Tony Roach Lure Moves for Walleyes in Reality Last February, fresh off a phenomenal trip to the current version of hog walleye heaven-Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba-Tony Roach could hardly keep himself from jumping out of his Snosuit. "Here we were," Roach exclaimed, jigging arm twitching randomly, "Standing out in the middle of the 'Winnipeg Wasteland,' ripping these clunky rattling crankbaits-lures like the Rapala Rippin' Rap. You'd pound these things into the bottom with heavy line, didn't matter, and halfway up your jigstroke, WHAM, these big 'eyes would jolt your arm to a dead-stop. Locals were catching 12-pounders on 20-pound test baited with hot dogs!" Befuddled, Roach... more
The Minnow Man by Ted Peck
A basket full of fish is icing on the cake for many folks trying to gain reprieve from life's stresses with a little time out on the water. There is much to be said for taking time to ponder obtuse concepts like cloud formations, migrating birds-or the inside of eyelids-on a crisp October afternoon. On countless occasions over the past half-century I have given serious consideration to bait. When you have time to delve into this metaphysical discourse it usually means there is still plenty of room for prisoners in the fish basket. There have been many instances where speculation and wonder focused on where minnows come from, far beyond the obvious answer "minnow eggs". If this subject ha... more
Labor Day 2011 has come and gone. For some folks, that marks the end of summer, and to some people that means it's time to put the boat and their rods and reels in storage. If they want to pull the plug on fishing in early September, that's certainly their decision, but, if they live in the Midwest, they're missing out on two months of some of the best fishing of the year. I'm guessing that if they live somewhere else, they're also missing some outstanding fishing opportunities. The following ideas will enable you to successfully extend your fishing season. Keep in mind that different bodies of water will be productive in the fall at different times. A shallow lake with dark water wi... more

September 2011

A Good Dog by Dave Duwe
The saddest day of a hunter's life is the day your favorite hunting dog can't do it anymore. All of the memories of the hunts in the past are the all that's left. My dog, Lindy, has reached the age where the time has come to retire. Like any old yellow lab, there is a bit of arthritis and a bit of excess weight from one too many treats from my wife. A busy day for Lindy is a walk in the yard and maybe a nap in a sunny spot. In her younger days, she would hunt until she would drop from exhaustion. She was a great hunter, and loved to get the birds. There are many ways to judge a great hunting dog. My major factors have always been the need to listen to commands and not disrupt fellow ... more
Dirty Day Muskies by Ted Pilgrim
When "Cold, Dark and Damp" actually signal Comfort and Good Fortune If you're not careful, being on water when most everyone else isn't can quickly become the central theme of your muskie strategy. Since fishing during the closed-season months is automatically ruled out, what we're left with are those 'dirty weather' days when winds howl and rains fall, right along with plummeting air temperatures and barometric instability. Fishing on days like these can easily begin to feel a little crazy, at least until you remind yourself that these are muskies you're after-a fish that often defies logic and reason itself. Which, in a twisted sort of way, makes fishing in illogical conditions start to... more
In walleye country, it's still summer during the day, but nights are starting to cool down. Cool early morning air temperatures remind anglers that autumn isn't far off. Autumn means different things to different people. For some, autumn is a time for hunting: For others it's football season. For walleye anglers, it's maybe our favorite time of year to go fishing. The weather and scenery is generally wonderful, there are fewer anglers on the water so there's plenty of room to move around, and, probably most importantly, walleyes like to get caught in the fall months. They'll go for a variety of lure presentations, but if you just want to get bit, you can't beat a jig. There might be b... more
So, you want to kick off the fall season with a dove hunt, eh? You've heard about how much fun dove hunting is and how hard the little critters are to hit, and you'd like to give it a try yourself. But if you've never hunted doves, you'll quickly find that the advice you get from books, videos and other hunters on how to lead them, what shot size works best and whether to go with an open-choked fast-swinging gun or a tighter-choked gun with a longer barrel for sustained leads is all for naught if you can't find a couple dozen doves to shoot at. When it comes right down, to it, the most important factor in a successful dove hunt is location. Mourning doves are the most abundant game birds... more
Minocqua, Eagle River and Hayward (Wisconsin) are no longer the fishing destinations I knew as a kid or even as my kids fell in love with back in the 1980's. All of these tourist meccas have morphed into little more than the Wisconsin Dells with loons-- some zipping around in SUV's with out of state license tags. It is difficult to venture far from the beaten path when this travel route is concrete and two lanes wide in both directions. But there are still a few special places where cloistered lakes reflect birch and balsam sentinels with minimum impact from human interlopers in Wisconsin's north country. The Pike Chain just south of Iron River is such a place, for several different... more
Trophy Gators of Fall by Jason Mitchell
As an angler, I find the distribution of northern pike fascinating. Pike basically inhabit the northern latitudes of the entire globe spanning from North America to Europe and Asia. In some high mountain lakes and the arctic shield, pike are considered an invasive species. The predatory appetite these fish possess is incredible. While pike are indeed common across the upper Midwest and much of Canada, big pike are really a rarer treasure. Many fisheries are not capable of producing big pike and more than other species of fish; big pike seem most susceptible to fishing pressure. In order to catch big pike, pike have to live long enough in the right water. Big pike either need regul... more

August 2011

The cool dry summer we experienced last season made for some unpredictable fishing While we did catch lots of smallmouth on many days the bite was light and called for finesse presentations. One would not think that such conditions would make for a great topwater bite. While it was not a great year for topwater fishing on the river, it was a good year. As usual anglers had to adjust and know when to take advantage of the windows that were open to the topwater bite. Although the topwater bite was sporadic last summer, when the bite was on it was fantastic. July was good but the best fishing occurred from mid August through mid September. The topwater bite last summer and early fall m... more
Justin Kohn says Libby whips up a whale of a breakfast at the Diver's Inn in Marquette, just an easy stone's throw from Lake Puckaway. There was no time for waffles, eggs and fresh squeezed orange juice as we eased away from this comfy sportsman-oriented bed and breakfast place at oh-dark-30. We had fish to catch. Kohn has angling savvy and ability far beyond his 29 years, with great knowledge of fish behavior on his "home lakes" and tools like sophisticated electronics which keep his big landing net perpetually wet. We briefly considered pulling planer boards on Puckaway, which has been one of the most consistent walleye producers in southern Wisconsin this year. Puckaway is like Ko... more
The summer months are a good time of year for fish in at least one way: There is lots of food in the water for them to eat. The baitfish that were hatched this spring are getting to a size where the predator fish can feed on them, and last year's baitfish are still of a size where they can be forage also. The supply of food for predator fish is probably higher right now than any other time of year. However, that doesn't mean fishing is going to be easy. In fact, because of all the baitfish and other forms of forage in the water, the predators have a lot of food options. The fish are hungry and will eat, but you need to make it easy for them to eat your bait. Trolling is a good way to ... more
Many anglers struggle to catch walleye as late summer progresses into fall. Fish can be scattered and patterns can seem inconsistent. Typically on many fisheries where several forage options exist, there can be a lot of different patterns happening at once with no single pattern dominating fish location. There might be fish scattered both shallow and deep. What we often find ourselves doing is instead of looking for the silver bullet pattern where the bulk of the fish in a particular area are doing something specific; we often fishethrough good spots fast… attempting to fish as many spots as possible as quickly as possible. What we sometimes see is that we often have to adjust our p... more
Mud Line Walleyes by Jason Mitchell
Wind and chop on the water often makes or breaks walleye fishing success. As wind directions and velocities change through the course of a day, adapting to the opportunities created by wind requires some flexibility. Mid summer often finds extended periods of stable weather with varying wind. One of the top patterns particularly for shallow or aggressive fish is rolling with what the wind deals. Following wind and focusing efforts on shorelines or structure that is getting pounded by wind is a top strategy. Obviously, too much wind can stain the water too much but generally speaking, some stain in the water created by wind can create short periods of incredible activity. What can make ... more

July 2011

Dick Urbonya works harder at not putting effort into catching fish than anybody I have ever known. The retired Beloit firefighter has always had a knack for finding subtle nuances which make his minnow, waxworm, redworm or cricket just a little bit more provocative than a similar bait swimming 10 feet away. "If you let the bait do the work its easier to focus on doing the catching," he winks while hoisting two crappies over the gunnel of his pontoon boat at the same time. Catching a pair of fish simultaneously on two poles would take too much effort. Urbonya finds it easier to rig two hooks on a single main line. "In the summertime crappies tend to school horizontally," the 67 year ... more
How you load and unload your boat at the boat ramp may not have an impact on how many fish you catch, but getting it in the water can set the tone for the day, for you and for any other angler that's waiting to put their boat in the water. Unloading your boat should be a quick and easy process, but often times it isn't. Following are some things you can do to get your boat off and on the trailer quickly and safely. By doing these things you'll be fishing quicker, and you won't be tying up the ramp and preventing others from going fishing sooner. Here we go. When you arrive at the boat ramp, pull into either the parking lot or the rigging lane. Do not go directly to the ramp. All p... more
Ok, this is the time to work the Perch and there is no special, long time ago story, to guide you, I am going to tell you just the facts. My guests enjoy our routine for consistent productivity, this includes, Crappie minnows and a small jig. If you have read any of my reports, as I post on Lake Link on a daily basis, on the Vilas county section of Northern Wisconsin, you will see the Big Perch we catch and NO, they are not Lake Michigan Perch, but very, very good Perch, from 9 to 13 inches. For now, let's forget about all the different rigs you have read about over the last several years, although they do work. Those rigs do and will continue to work and produce Perch. Absolutely yes, but ... more
Behemoths may not come easy, but the devoted know beastly pike are worth the time Bait mangling marauders. Lure pilfering predators. Slimy line-shearing snakes. Sad but true, the northern pike often gets no justice. But it's only anglers that have deprived themselves of targeting trophy-size fish during the summer months that take up this preposterous position. While many anglers cast shoreward only and curse the hammer-handles for tearing up their terminal tackle, ardent Esox anglers probe the depths for giants, even though the time gaps between bites can sometimes be long. Northerns in depth Like any brute fish, northern pike prefer to spend a summer's day in cool water. During ... more
When your fishing buddy calls and tells you to drop everything because the fish are snapping, you do what you need to do. That may mean playing hooky from work or telling your wife that your off to buy milk... see ya in 6 hours! Last week I received such a call, from my friend Pat Kalmerton, co-owner of Wolf Pack Adventures. In summer, Pat charters Salmon on Lake Michigan out of Sheboygan, WI. My voicemail was short, "Duwe, it's the best fishing in years, limits almost every day!" I called him back in a matter of hours and scheduled a trip for one of his few open dates. I told the folks at work that I felt the fishing flu coming on. We met in the marina up in Sheboygan, early the nex... more
One of the most overused terms in fishing today is "reaction strike." It seems like every time you turn around, someone else is talking about a scenario where a fish has been magically stimulated to bite. The truth, of course, is that fish strike baits for one primary reason-to eat. As anglers, we're in the persuasion business-doing things with presentation that allure fish to bite when they otherwise wouldn't. It's actually a pretty apt description for the role of a lively baitfish. I can make an awfully convincing case for the supreme reaction strike triggering power of a live minnow, such as a meaty golden shiner or a creek chub, for any fish species, including bass and trout. But for... more
Walleyes on Flats by Jason Mitchell
If there is one spot, one pattern that is capable of producing a lot of walleyes for us each season early in the summer, my vote would go to large shallow flats that protrude to deep water. Shallow is relative along with deep but what we are looking for are flats that are generally at least one acre or sometimes several hundred acres that might be in anywhere from five to fifteen feet of water. These flats are generally more productive if they drop off into deep water whether this deeper water is a deep basin, old river channel or trough. The bigger the flat, the more obvious the spot and these flats are often no secret on the map. While small, obscure flats might not get as much attenti... more
If it weren't for the muskie, a good case could be made for the smallmouth bass as the state fish. Smallies are native to more waters than muskies. Pound-for-pound, they fight as hard. And, unlike the toothy king of the Esox clan, smallmouths will hit just about anything just about any time, which makes them a favorite of anglers who count action high on the list of a fish's qualities. Smallies are perhaps most at home in rivers. A good smallmouth river has some current and lots of instream cover in the form of rocks, rubble, logs and undercut banks. Very fast and very slow stretches harbor fewer bass than do those with a moderate flow. Bass rivers range in size from the Mississippi ... more

June 2011

A Guide's Day Off by Ted Peck
What does a fishing guide do on his birthday? Take the day off and go fishin', of course! Another day on the Mississippi would feel too much like just another day at the 'office'. Time for a road trip to my second most favorite water on the planet-The Wisconsin River between Merrill and Brokaw. Walleyes don't run as big here as on Pool 9, but muskies are almost pests and the smallmouth fishing is outstanding. Anglers are also few and far between, because a cartopper, canoe or boat with a jet drive outboard are the only platforms which allow safe travel on this water. Kurt Schultz knows every inch of this water, with knowledge far beyond his years. He's a hoot to fish with, parti... more
From a Texas rig, to lightly weighted with split shot, to working the surface, the plastic worm is your friend in clear water from opening day to late fall. Choosing the color for your presentation is a trial and error event, although, black, dark red, green, blue, motor oil, purple and several others with metal flake are proven winners. Single hooked worms (through the head), wacky hooked worms (1 hook in the middle of the worm) and pre rigged worms with 1, 2 or 3 single hooks already imbedded into the worm, all of these are deadly from the surface to the bottom, for clear water Smallmouth Bass. Casting these presentations can be easily done with light, moderate or heavy pound test along wi... more
Lighter Side of Jigs by Tom Neustrom
It happened again, just like the last Minnesota Walleye Opener, and one before that. We were dosie-doe-ing amongst dozens of other boats, all square dancing over a giant piece of structure and dipping jigs. Not bragging, but like last time and the time before that, our Lund's catch rate trumped the dance floor. Soon, other boats orbited us like moons circling a planet. Elbow room tightened, but we continued hauling in walleye after walleye while the invaders struggled to scoop up our scraps. The 'tail-pipers' appeared to be using similar jigs draped with live shiners, too. But still, the barrel of our landing net stayed hot while they drifted by fishless - the difference not being with wh... more
Live Bait Rigging Defined by Jason Mitchell
Live bait rigging is all about angles. The amount of weight on the sinker combined with the amount of line out determines the angle that the line takes from the rod tip to the water. The direction that you hover or move either across structure or up and down through structure determines the angle that the boat has to cross structure to catch the most fish. Master the angles and you catch way more fish with live bait rigs, plain and simple. There are several ways to adjust sinker weight that have come and gone over the years but to this day, the simplest and most effective system I know of is the simple blade change clevices used for quickly changing spinner blades on harnesses. The No... more

May 2011

Writen in conjunction with Scott Glorvigen Don't worry, this isn't a complex story about boat control. We promise not to make you read all about how to execute the perfect backtroll; slip-drift a steep breakline while quartering with a 30-knot gale; half-circle troll for king salmon with three different motors while standing on one leg. Yes, they're all show stopping techniques given certain sets of circumstances. But for this exercise, the focus is on kicking back and letting the boat control itself. It's all about stability. Crunching waves, grinding teeth and spearing rollers with the trolling motor? Miserable, even painful. Smoothly breezing across open seas, enjoying the lakescape... more
An angel was born on Aug. 11, 2001 just north of Cassville. She didn't look like an angel according to our perception of angels. This one has a tail instead of wings and soft yellow fur. I didn't realize Hanna Banana was an angel until last Wednesday. We went on a turkey scouting/shed antler hunting mission on a neighbor's 200 acre farm the day before. I was tired after working along a tall ridge looking for sheds and sign, deciding to take in the vista of the valley below from a large rock. Hanna came over and put her heavy chin on my knee, looking for affection. Back home she had difficulty getting out of the truck. Once in the house she couldn't get comfortable. The following morn... more
Although the lakes across the northern section of the Midwest are still covered with ice, anglers are fishing almost everywhere else. There's a feeling in the air that anglers are anxious to get fishing. They want to be on the water chasing whatever it is that they like to chase, and nothing is going to keep them from doing so. They might be fishing closer to home this year, but they're going to go fishing. That's an outstanding attitude. Following are some ways you can enjoy your fishing even more this year. Go fishing whenever you get the chance. Wherever you live, there's probably a body of water that holds fish nearby. It could be a large lake or a small pond, a major river or ... more
Over the years, an incredibly effective tactic for us is to long line a light jig or split shot rig through shallow water. In states where we could use two rods in particular, we often used the long line rig on the extra rod in the rod holder. There are probably several reasons why this set up works so well at times but I can attest to the fact that I have been out fished several times by the rod holder. Back in the day, we used to pour our own jigs for this technique as you often wanted a light jig, say eighth of an ounce or less but many of the smaller jigs had smaller hooks basically for crappie fishing. The smaller hooks just had a lower hooking percentage when combined with a larg... more
Nothing gets a turkey hunter's heart a-thumpin' like a booming gobble just yards away. Let that tom gobble incessantly without coming any closer, though, and the warm rush slowly turns to frustration. Spend enough time in the turkey woods, and sooner or later you'll encounter a trash-talking tom that comes so tantalizingly close, only to hang up, retreat or fall silent. Such a bird is usually a boss tom, an old, wary bird whose spurs have turned to hooks because he doesn't come trotting to the first box call of spring. A turkey like that will teach you a lesson in patience, but when nothing you throw at him brings him to the gun, you can sometimes outflank him and put him in the bag.... more
I would bet that every one of you reading this article knows someone who has dealt with skin cancer. And maybe, like me, you even know someone who has died from complications related to malignant melanoma. Skin cancer is frightening, and protecting ourselves while in the sun can be lifesaving. Many of us spent time in the sun before ever hearing of sunscreen, and we can only hope that those sunburns don't lead to problems as we age. Living in Wisconsin, we try to pack as much outdoor activity as possible into our half-year of nice weather. Fishing, boating, hiking and golfing are just a few of the many things we love to do outside. For me, it's fishing and hiking. Whether in the ... more
Every fisherman has taken a long awaited fishing trip. I had such a trip planned to go to Lake Erie this past week. After months of discussion, setting the date, getting the details worked out, including getting my wife to agree that it was okay for me to leave on Easter Sunday; all the great plans came together. Except one. Mother Nature was not on board with the plan. Anyone who has ever fished Lake Erie knows that weather is the great equalizer. Lake Erie is full of walleyes, big and small. Tommy Harris of Tommy Harris Blades, Scott Hill a fellow fishing guide and our Captain Randy Roth of Hit N Miss Charters out of Port Clinton, set out with the same goal, to catch a bunch of ... more
The ice went out 3 days before opening day and as the alarm went off at 4:00AM that Saturday morning, I was going over in my mind the location of the weed bed we were going to fish, trying to decide where to position the boat in conjunction with a strong south wind. Anchoring was and still is an important method, when fishing weeds in the wind. Presque Isle Lake has very, very clear water and wind is my friend when fishing any clear water environment, at this time of year in particular. Remember, we are discussing lakes, not a river environment. My guests and I headed across the chain of lakes, moving thru the large waves when I noticed they were becoming too big for us, the date was 198... more
Blade baits. They cast like a bullet and sink like a brick - the antithesis of what most anglers think of as an ideal bait for walleyes - yet those finicky, light-biting critters practically knock themselves out to hit these solid-metal jigging spoons. The secret to the attraction of blade baits is vibration. Whether jigged, ripped or retrieved, blade baits send out a thumping, pulsing rhythm that walleyes just can't resist. The original blade bait was the Heddon Sonar, introduced in the late 1950s. Unlike nearly all the wooden or plastic plugs of its day, when it hit the water the Sonic sank straight to the bottom. When retrieved, it wobbled with a tight vibration you could feel ev... more

April 2011

Cold Water Catfish by Ted Peck
Upper Midwest anglers have walleyes on the brain this time of year. Their numbers are legion, perhaps because other piscatorial opportunities remain unseen. Catfish are a virtually untapped resource with equal reputation at the dinner table and greater 'street cred' in the realm of hand-to-fin combat. Why don't we chase this whiskered walleye on the early side of serious summer? Tradition? Social acceptance? Species specific snobbery? I suspect all three explanations. But I also suspect each to be a cleverly veiled excuse. Most who hit the water well before Easter are of two persuasions: either they don't know where to find cold water cats and how to catch 'em or know full well and... more
The warming spring sun draws to a conclusion another long winter. In early spring (March & April) there is a period between ice fishing and the start of Wisconsin's game fish season. Game fishing season opens the first weekend in May. But this early spring period also has something to offer, the warm spring sun makes the winter blues melt away and the panfishing can be tremendous. This is the time of the year when the bluegills and crappies will move from their wintering locations to the warmest water in a particular lake. This is usually less than 5 ft of water. A lot of time, I am fishing the edges of a lake with the middle of the lake still frozen. Keep in mind that the nort... more
There is a general rule of thumb that fish are often located in shallow water during the spring and fish progressively move deeper as the year progresses. There is often some merit to this general rule of thumb but remember that there are always factors that can change or alter this generic migration. Weeds for example may hold walleyes shallow well into the open water season. Wind or rising water can also keep fish shallow. Every body of water offers a different twist and each year can even be different on the same body of water. Often as anglers, we get conditioned to expect a specific pattern and if the pattern doesn't materialize, we beat the dead horse. Confidence when fishing dic... more
Maumee Madness by Ted Peck
Twenty-three anglers stood waist deep in the chilly Maumee River waiting for the sun to peak over the horizon east of Toledo, signaling the start of another day of fishing. There probably would have been more eager walleye chasers along this hundred yard run of riffles, but it was a Tuesday morning and the ambient temperature was only 22 degrees. On weekends when the annual spring run out of Lake Erie peaks about mid-April the fishers will be standing literally elbow to elbow. Why would anybody want to subject themselves to this extreme level of combat fishing? Nine million big walleyes, tasked with running this gauntlet of floating jigheads and Carolina rig weights to carry on the fa... more
This spring, nearly 200,000 hunters will take to the woods in Wisconsin in search of a turkey. If this season is like others before it, less than a third of them will bring home a bird. Successful hunters usually prepare well in advance for their hunt, devise a game plan and then adjust their plan according to how the turkeys respond. Here are some tips that can help put you in the success column this season. Scout Sooner and Later Even if you're hunting familiar land, now is the time to start scouting that land to get an idea of how many birds it holds, where they might be hanging out and whether there have been any changes on the landscape since last spring. On one place I have hunted,... more

March 2011

Late Ice Action by Bob Jensen
We are entering what many ice-anglers declare to be their favorite time of the year for ice-fishing. The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer, and the fish are really starting to eat. During mid-winter there can be a time when getting bites can be kind of a tough deal. From now until the end of ice-fishing season, bites will be more frequent and your nose is going to stay a lot warmer when you're on the ice. Here's how you can get in on the action. First thing, and this is very important: Don't push your luck on the ice. Know when enough's enough. Falling through the ice is no fun! If you're not sure of ice conditions, get sure. Just like you don't need to be the fir... more
Let It Do by Dave Duwe
In life there are moments that are very enlightening experiences that at the time don't necessarily seem all that significant. I had one of those experiences in my recent trip to Florida with my family. We were vacationing in the Tampa Bay area. The purpose of the trip was sun and fun (along with a lot of fishing). We had beautiful weather, mid 70's and we also caught a lot of fish, including an accidental hook up of a porpoise. The porpoise broke the line after a short run and jump, 8 lb test wasn't going to keep flipper fighting long. The enlightenment in the trip occurred by happenstance. My brother in law, Jeff, was heading to our shore fishing honey hole and saw another angler ... more
Steve Starr, a good kayak fishing friend of mine, was back in Wisconsin for the summer. After kayaking for peacock and largemouth bass with him in South Florida I was looking forward to kayaking for some Wisconsin River smallies. We talked about it a number of times, however the river seemed to be running high all summer, but finally we had our chance on September 10th. I do most of my kayak fishing on lakes, but had kayaked the Wisconsin in the Sauk City area a few times and caught and released a bunch of smallies. Having fished that stretch from Sauk City to the Ferry's Bluff takeout, Steve and I decided to try something new. We met at the Rivers Edge Resort in Wisconsin Dells, d... more
Shallow Water Details by Jason Mitchell
The fact that fish move into shallow water during the early part of the open water season is no secret. This general pattern is fairly universal with both warm water and cool water fish that spawn in the spring. Whether the targeted species is bass, walleyes, northern pike or even pan fish, anglers are often finding fish shallow providing that the weather is stable and that this shallow water is warming up. This stratification where shallow water close to the shoreline warms up ahead of deeper, offshore water is crucial for many of these shallow patterns to develop. On reservoirs and lakes, anglers often find fish of several species under the generic "bay within a bay" rule where you loo... more
Life is a circle, with time on this planet known only to the Creator. Most of us would like to lead a fulfilling life, seen as part of the solution instead of being part of the problem when our time on the planet is done. Humans are the alpha life form on the big, blue marble which is planet earth. We learn early on that life is a treasure. At least human life. There are severe consequences for messing with the lifeline of a fellow human. In Genesis the Bible tells us we humans have dominion over all other living things. A nightcrawler certainly has less value to us than the family dog. But a life is a life. As fishermen we don't give a second thought to ending the life of a nightcra... more

February 2011

Jimmy Buffet is right-a change in latitude can make a world of difference in a person's attitude. A couple hundred miles on a southern vector might wipe the snarl off your face. Cross the Arkansas state line and it's hard to keep from laughing out loud. Arkansas is truly a sportsman's paradise. Right now this state offers at least three things you won't find much of close to home: open water, bare ground and striped bass. Ocean rockfish, a.k.a. "stripers" are perhaps the hardest pulling fish in fresh water. The only potential challengers for this designation are Chinook salmon and flathead catfish. Muskies would be out of the race after 20 yards. A big striper won't even look b... more
Deep Panfish At Late Ice by Jason Mitchell
The late ice period is often a prime window for anglers targeting panfish. Bluegills, jumbo perch and crappies often stage in somewhat predictable locations as the ice begins to rot. A top strategy for locating fish is to identify weed beds and structure that is located between wintering holes and massive basin areas where many fish winter and shallow bays that typically see spawning activity. One overlooked pattern however that often rewards anglers with larger fish often takes place in relatively deep water. The deep basin areas that intersect the mouths and necks of shallower bays where these fish will eventually spawn are often a major staging area that produces big panfish. Dee... more
When ice fishing slows around February, I get hit by what some call "cabin fever." I prefer to call it the ice fishing "blahs." The "blahs" happen when you start getting sick of ice fishing and can't wait for open water fishing. When that feeling hits, I can't help but dream about getting the boat in the water and setting out, but for me that's at least a month away. To make the time pass faster, it's time to start getting prepared for the upcoming open water season. With the new 2011 catalogs in hand, it can't be any easier. To get prepared, I like to get my terminal tackle re-stocked, rods and reels prepared, and take care of any miscellaneous boat service items. When cons... more
In many areas of the Midwest, we are entering a time of year when walleye fishing through the ice can be pretty good. In some states, or in parts of some states, walleye season closes and walleyes can't be targeted, but in those areas where you can still chase walleyes, the bite can be very rewarding. Here's how you can get in on the action. There are a lot of things that you can do this time of year to increase your chances for getting bit. First, just like any time of the year, you've gotta find the fish. Second, there are times of the day that are better. Day in and day out, early and late in the day will be more productive: Late in the day is my favorite. Weather can change t... more

January 2011

When the Right Flash and Flutter Out-Produce All Others Pulling panfish from frigid water with tiny treats is, no doubt, the modern ice angler's most popular ploy. But while fishing in micro-mode is a most excellent tactic, there are periods when the flash and flutter of a falling spoon will out-produce any ultra-miniature jig - especially during feeding furies near the end of winter. Plucking panfish with stamped steel and molded metals is nothing new. In fact, anglers have been hauling multitudes of spoon-caught species through holes since man first fashioned the tools needed for shaping these precious metals. But there's more to duping panfish with spoons than meets the eye. The best... more
There are several different species of fish that anglers chase through the ice. Some anglers like to catch walleyes, other like to get after perch. Pike are popular in some places, and crappies and other types of panfish are favored in others. Different species of fish respond to different presentations. Walleyes like spoons, panfish like tiny jigs, and pike like natural baits. If you're targeting a particular species of fish, you need to employ a technique that that specie is most likely to respond to. However, there are some basic principles of fishing that you need to keep in mind regardless of what fish you want to catch. Following are some of those basic principles. The ... more
The Art of Drilling Holes by Jason Mitchell
When you look at some of the best ice anglers, there often is some strategy in how and where they drill holes. Ice anglers might not be able to drift or troll but they can drill holes in a pattern and discipline themselves to fish the holes in a set time to cover water. There is a method behind the madness and successful anglers often have a strategy behind the drilling. Just drilling a bunch of holes for the sake of drilling holes can be counter productive if there is no purpose. The reality is that some of the better days I have had on the ice were days where I didn't have to move a lot and was able to catch a lot of fish out of a handful of holes. For whatever the reason, there wa... more
The concept of finding a hot bite in early January is an oxymoron which only a moron could believe is possible. 'Hot' is a relative term when the topic is activity levels in cold blooded creatures. Now is the time when a day on the ice usually starts out with slow fishing then slacks right off from there. Fish in 33 degree water don't need to feed often or eat very much. They can sometimes be goaded into striking, but the strike window is relatively small. In 70 degree water an aggressive fish may streak five feet to smack a bait. In near-freezing water the same fish may move mere inches then merely gernip your offering with the lightning reflexes of a gutter wino. Conversely... more

December 2010

Early ice can provide some outstanding action for a variety of fish. Walleyes, crappies, perch, bluegills and northern pike are all willing to eat your bait when the ice fishing season starts. As soon as you know the ice is safe, you should get out there. Once you're on the ice, there are a few things you should keep in mind to maximize your chances for ice-fishing success. First of all, it's important to keep noise and motion to a minimum. In many bodies of water, especially if you're after panfish, they'll be in fairly shallow water, ten feet or less. Think of that: You're directly above the fish, only ten feet away. If you make too much noise or move around too much, the fish ar... more
A sudden stop, drop, drag and lift can produce fiery strikes when all else fails Today's ice angler has sled-loads of advantages over the pioneers of yesteryear. Take present-day lures, for example. Tackle technology offers the capacity to mimic the size, shape and color of forage to a tee. And with nothing more than a simple rise and fall of the rod tip, they have the curb appeal to flip-flop on the drop and trip the trigger of passerby's. But a fish's mood may change like the wind - literally. Foul weather fronts, as well moon phases in the minor, can take a good bite south in an instant. When I'm hunkered over fish and they're either in a negative state or quit biting, I change fro... more
Those of us who have been around awhile remember where they were when JFK was assassinated. I heard the news over a loudspeaker in sixth grade music class. This tragedy changed the lives of all Americans. School was dismissed and I arrived home to find Dad hooking up his old green flatbottom boat to the back of our '63 Chevy BelAir. He was headed to The River in pursuit of walleyes and growled an invitation to join him if my butt was on the Chevy's bench seat in 10 minutes. We hadn't been fishing the tailwaters of the Mississippi River dam at Bellevue for more than 20 minutes before it was clear inadequate outerwear would be an issue. Odds for actually catching fish appeared pretty l... more
Here are the "Top 5" to make your fishing trip on first ice successful. (1) Know your lake! You want to choose a shallow lake, which freezes first. In Southeastern Wisconsin, my first ice choices are; Monona Bay, Madison, Whitewater Lake, Whitewater, and Lake Como, Lake Geneva. The first two lakes have an abundance of Bluegills with an occasional Northern Pike and my third choice Lake Como is primarily a Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass lake. The key factor to all three lakes is their shallow nature. I won't usually fish over six feet during the first ice period, most often this is the first couple of weeks in December, but sometimes later. Choosing a shallow lake allows you to f... more

November 2010

The full moon in October has come and gone and as I wrote last month, I was fishing in Polk County for full moon muskies. As a rule, the full moon in October is the best time to caught muskies! We settled on Bone Lake, which has been a favorite selection for several years. Although the lake sometimes varies, the annual trip itself has been taking place for close to 20 years; I've only missed the outing once due to double knee surgery: last year. This is more than a fishing trip for me; I look forward to spending time with two of my closest friends from college. Those years since college have gone by faster than Tim, Steve or I have been able to fathom, now we all have kids, wives or gir... more
Old Man River continues to show fishermen his complete repertoire of curves, fast balls and sliders in 2010 as we move through the 11th inning of a 12 inning game. Lord only knows the changes we may see between now and Christmas in a year which started with less than stellar ice fishing into an early spring, gin clear June into a summer and fall which vacillated between flood stage and high dirty water with a few short chuckles of unbelievable action in between. Coming into November there are only a couple more cards to play before Old Man Winter takes the mound and we enter the cold water period. The first one turned just before Halloween when he covered the 48 degree walleye "eat"... more
I just returned from a late-season fishing trip to the Mississippi River. We were fishing near Lansing Iowa. My fishing partners were Jim Hunt and Terry Fitzpatrick: Both work at the Cabela's store in Prairie du Chien Wisconsin and are expert anglers. The Mississippi River had been at flood stage for several weeks, but was back down to normal levels. A very strong windstorm had just gone through, with the wind turning the water to a chocolate milk color in the main channel and many of the backwaters. And the water temperatures had dropped about ten degrees in the past few days. Often, these conditions create tough fishing. Often, but not always. The first thing we did was loc... more

October 2010

The Mississippi River will change a hundred times-at least one hundred times-between the first of October and the end of the month. It's easy to write these words as the time has come to tear September off the calendar. The River has been running belly full, brown and angry for a solid week with more weeds coming down than I have ever seen in almost six decades on this water. That's okay. When its time to throw October in the trash can walleyes will be going absolutely bananas on the wingdams, closing dams and other rocks-and a bunch of other special little places where I like to sneak in with the Lund when all the conditions are just right. This has been the most challenging year I... more
Full Moon Muskies by Dave Duwe
I have been an avid musky fisherman for years. Due to my family, business and guiding commitments I don't have the time to fish them as often as I did in my younger years. Now, muskies are like an old friend that I visit once a year. Every year I make it a point to clear my calendar for one musky trip of the year. To put the odds in my favor I always choose the full moon period in October. I have been going this particular weekend for the last 20+ years. I have also been going with the same crew. Steve Hauge, President of All Terrain Tackle and Tim Lindemann a VP with US Airways. Both of these guys are lifelong friends from college. We laugh every year that we never thought any of u... more
Why Fish in the Fall? by Bob Jensen
Every now and then someone asks me why I get so excited about fall fishing. Before I can answer, the questioner provides a number of reasons why spring and summer fishing is better. While I agree that fishing anytime of the year is a good thing to do, I can come up with several really good reasons why fall fishing is a good idea. Here are some of those reasons. Some folks insist that autumn weather can be inclement, and that fishing in the rain or cold is no fun. My response: Fishing in the rain anytime of the year is just something we deal with, and a good number of folks prefer the cool weather of fall to the heat and humidity of summer. A set of Cabela's GuideWear will make any... more

September 2010

It's a little amusing to consider the level of technology that's been applied to the humble pursuit of angling. For a quest whose only core requirements are a hook, line, bait and sinker, the addition of military-level gadgetry can at times leave you feeling a little sheepish. Not that we mind the advantages. Satellite-enhanced mapping software pinpoints our location on the lake, and guides us to potential hotspots. Sonar, too, continues to advance with brighter pictures and finer features. And thanks to once top-secret technology, it's even become possible to scan the water on both sides of your boat. There's nowhere left for the fish to hide, right? Perhaps not. The reality is, despi... more
After Labor Day in Wisconsin, the kids migrate back to school. At this same time the yellow perch are also migrating from the main lake basin to the shallows. Perch will travel in schools throughout the day. Once you locate the schools they can be caught extremely fast. They feed by sight so the daylight hours are the best time to catch them. Unlike most fish, perch are not affected by the weather as much, so don't let a cold front get you down. In late summer, I will look for the perch in a depth range of 10-14 ft of water. The key for me is finding a location in a lake that has hard bottom (sand/rock) with scattered weeds in close proximity to an area of soft bottom (muck). L... more
When you go fishing, if you want to catch a fish, it's really important that you put your bait where a fish lives. That might sound extremely basic, but the most basic concept of fishing is to fish where the fish are. You can have the nicest boat in the world, and you can have lots of expensive rods and reels and tackleboxes full of lures, but if you don't put your lure near a fish, all that other stuff is going to do you no good. Here are some ideas for finding different species of fish in the fall months throughout the Midwest. Let's start with crappies. Crappies are abundant and popular almost everywhere. In the spring we catch them near cover like rushbeds and docks and timber in ... more

August 2010

During the heat of August, you may hear the term, the "dog days" of summer. However, I believe it should really be called the frog days of summer. Late summer is the best time to fish Largemouth bass on plastic frogs. Avid bass anglers have known about frog fishing for years. There are two types of frogs. There is the old type, like Snag-Proof or Spro Bronzeye and these are the top choice for many anglers. They are typically hollow plastic with a couple of hooks and tentacles to imitate frog legs. These frogs are usually fished in a "slop" area of the lake. Slop is a vegetative mat, comprised of grass, moss and duck weed. Over time there are always improvements and there... more
"Kurt Schultz was one of those rare kids who learned how to cast before he could walk," veteran guide Bill Melanson said of his 30 year old protégé. "He was born to be a fishing guide and the Creator planted this young buck right in the middle of Wisconsin's best muskie water." Melanson believes the 13 mile run of Wisconsin River from Merrill down to Brokaw is the most productive muskie water in this muskie-crazy state. Melanson said his clients have boated "somewhere between 2,500 -3,000 muskies on the Merrill to Brokaw run since he started guiding these waters in 1979. Schultz started working with Melanson 11 years ago. "I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be in the boat with Bil... more
It's summer, and fishing in the summer can be really good. Thing is though, fishing might not necessarily be good for the specie of fish that you want to catch. We might really want to catch walleyes, but in reality, in some bodies of water, the largemouth bass might be biting a lot better than 'eyes. It's a good idea to keep your options open when you go fishing in the summer. If you do, you'll catch a lot more fish. When you start out your day of fishing, it's important to have a game-plan in place. If, for instance, walleyes are to be the quarry, you should have a rod rigged with a Roach Rig. Live bait is almost always a good summertime bet for walleyes. Check out some deeper wa... more

July 2010

When the dog days of summer get here, the fishing seems to get tough. But it doesn't have to be, if you know the right tips and tricks to dial them in when they're down deep. As the spawning ends and the water gets warm, most fish will head to the depths for safety, food and "comfort" away from the heat. If you want to find them, you need the right techniques to bring the big fish into your boat. Here's a few things I've learned over the years fishing deep lakes, including one of Wisconsin's deepest inland lakes, Geneva Lake. Two main factors come into play when targeting deepwater gamefish like walleye and smallmouth bass - weedlines and thermoclines. Walleyes love a deep weed edge in s... more
Facing you own mortality is a tough bear to tussle with. If the Biblical allotment of three score and ten years holds water, I still have a good 10 years to fish. A lifetime of chasing fish all over North America has spawned several trips with annual adventure status. One of these is the February run to Louisiana's gulf coast to chase redfish and speckled trout with Capn. Daryl Dispensire. Retired Chicago Bear Mark Bortz and I have made this foray for the past nine years, reveling in the warm winter sunshine in the perpetual party ambience of the happy folks down there who are content in knowing nature can provide for every need. This idyllic picture changed forever a couple of mont... more
It's summer, and fishing in the summer can be really good. Thing is though, fishing might not necessarily be good for the specie of fish that you want to catch. We might really want to catch walleyes, but in reality, in some bodies of water, the largemouth bass might be biting a lot better than 'eyes. It's a good idea to keep your options open when you go fishing in the summer. If you do, you'll catch a lot more fish. When you start out your day of fishing, it's important to have a game-plan in place. If, for instance, walleyes are to be the quarry, you should have a rod rigged with a Roach Rig. Live bait is almost always a good summertime bet for walleyes. Check out some deeper wa... more
As a child I remember waking up at the crack of dawn with grandpa tickling my toes saying "It's time to go fishing, time is a wasting." A quick orange and a bowl of Special K from grandma preceded a race to the car to see which grandkid would get there first and earn the right to sit next to grandpa for the ride to the river. Once in the boat grandpa always seemed to know right where to go and his next stop, Grandpa's magical honey hole, always seemed to be a randomly picked spot out in the middle of the river channel! At least this is what I thought as a young lad on those earliest fishing trips. These were the spots responsible for producing the memories of all the laughs and arguments bet... more
Why Kayak Fishing by Bill Schultz
It's mid-summer. You are on a clear water lake, working the shallows with a Booyah Buzzbait, looking for that trophy bass. All of a sudden, the calm surface explodes and flying from the depths is the biggest bass you've ever had on the end of your line. After an amazing battle, you lip a six-pound largemouth. By the time your heart stops pounding; you've quickly taken a photograph and released the beauty. What makes this picture even more special is that you're on a lake with no boat launch and a shoreline that would make shore fishing or wading difficult. This isn't a problem for you because you are fishing from your kayak. After parking along the road closest to the lake, you were a... more

June 2010

If you're one of those folks more at home in the great outdoors than a man-made environment, "cotton" raining down from cottonwood trees just before the Memorial Day weekend was a welcome sign. The parachuting seed signals catfish spawning is nigh, typically beginning within 4-5 days. Channel cats spawn when water temps reach 78 degrees. This benchmark arrived 4-5 days after the cottonwood rain began to fall. Funny how conventional river rat wisdom enables those who heed nature's whispers to consistently cash in on a river's bounty. Channel cats are omnivores, dining on everything from hot dogs to Ivory soap. Nightcrawlers, cut bait, chicken livers, shrimp and decaying mussels ... more
Shallow Water Bass by Bob Jensen
When largemouth bass move into the shallows early in the fishing season, the action can be fast, it can be visual, and it can be some of the most exciting fishing you'll have all year. Here's how you can get in on this action. Depending on where you live, bass may have already been in the shallows, they could be there right now, or they could be in deeper water waiting for Mother Nature to tell them it's time to move shallow. Across the Midwest they are probably shallow now, or will be shallow very soon. They go shallow to spawn. After spawning some will stay shallow, others will go back to the deep water for awhile to recover from spawning, then return to the shallows to get somethin... more
No, it shouldn't include a credit card; keep that in your wallet. This question came up recently when a regular customer of mine, we'll call him Al, asked me why everyone has so much tackle, and I use so very little. He thought it would be a good idea for an article, so here goes. During the course of this article, I will certainly be mentioning some products that are made by companies that sponsor me, but I will also be mentioning plenty of products and companies that don't sponsor me. This is not meant to be an advertisement; it's really about having the right tools for the job with you. Like 100% of the fishermen out there, 90% of the items in my tackle box are never used. In fact... more

May 2010

Fishing Wing Dams by Ted Peck
Wingdams are one of the biggest fish magnets on the Mississippi River. They are also profound hazards to recreational navigation-and a source of curiosity in those who want to discover more about this magnificent fishery without the painful expense of repairing props, skegs and lower units. Know this: if you try seriously to reap the bounty found on wingdams damage to equipment is a matter of when - not if. You should never venture out on this water without redundancy in power, navigation and safety equipment. Don't leave the dock without a spare prop for both the big motor and the electric! Wingdams are rocky fingers extending pretty much out from shore at a 90 degree angle from the ... more
Catch-and-Release lessons from a toothy-critter master - with Pete Maina Pete Maina has in his day handled thousands of big muskies. Ex-guide, lure inventor, TV personality, angler extraordinaire, Maina has worn many hats. Today, while he remains a zealous hunter of the big green fish, his real crusade is a message of placing fisheries first. "No one is handling more muskies each and every day than we, the anglers," states Maina from his home in the muskie-rich region of Hayward, Wisconsin. "Not biologists, not lakeshore associations, tackle salesmen or legislators. Fishermen play such a huge role in actively determining the health of our muskie waters-in essence, we're the real man... more
With the opening of the Wisconsin Fishing Season, anglers should be aware that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has implemented new rules and regulations associated with invasive species. Invasive species, both aquatic and terrestrial, create many problems in Wisconsin. They change natural ecosystems, displace native species, reduce outdoor recreation opportunities and cost millions of dollars for control. Wisconsin has been working for several years to educate people about invasive species; what they are, what they do and measures to reduce the chance of spreading them to new areas. With programs like Clean Boats, Clean Waters and Citizen Lake Monitoring, there has been gre... more
Put Some Back by Bob Jensen
In the next few weeks, lots of anglers are going to take to the water in search of a tug on their line. And in those next few weeks, lots of fish are going to be caught. When we catch a fish, a decision needs to be made: Am I going to keep this fish? For some folks, there is no decision. They are going to release the fish. There are lots of anglers who go fishing because they just enjoy the thrill of the catch. That's great! For other folks, there is also no decision. They are going to keep the fish. Fish are good to eat. If I can have fun fishing and take a few home for the supper table, I will. Nothing wrong with that either. But there are lots of anglers in the middle. T... more
In 2009 I wrote two articles for Lake-Link on my experience fishing for peacock and largemouth bass from a kayak in the canals and small lakes just southwest of Ft. Lauderdale, in Weston, Florida. It was so much fun that when work took me back to the area twice this winter, I scheduled two days of fishing on each trip with friend and avid bass angler, Steve Starr. Steve has fished both peacock and largemouth from kayaks for years and certainly showed me a great time last year. I knew it had been terribly cold in Florida all winter, especially during January. As Steve and I talked leading up to my first trip in February, he told me he hadn't seen a peacock since late fall, which had us ... more

April 2010

The slackwater/fast water interface frequently found in conjunction with a backeddy is a popular haunt of riverine walleyes in the spring. Locating one of these fish magnets is fairly easy. But orienting a boat or making a cast that puts your offering in the optimum strike window is a study in precision. Anchoring up is one angling skill that many casual anglers don't take seriously. River fishing isn't like lake fishing where anchoring within casting distance will usually pay off. If you're in position to get a reasonable drift where the fast water meets the slack water you may be able to tempt a few fish. But if you anchor up to present an in-your-face presentation you ca... more
It's spring in the Midwest!! The snow and ice are gone and the robins have returned. Open-water fishing isn't far away: In fact, a good number of anglers are already out on rivers chasing walleyes and on ponds, bays, and backwaters chasing panfish. This is the time of year when many folks are putting fresh line on their reels. That's smart! Fresh line greatly increases the odds of your landing that lunker when it decides to eat your bait. There are lots of line choices available to today's angler. All those line choices can make it difficult to decide which one is best for you. Let's consider what you should think about when deciding which line is appropriate for your fishing. T... more
The Deadly Drag by Brian "Bro" Brosdahl
Dumbing-down to a crawl dupes springtime crappies for panfish pros Brian "Bro" Brosdahl with Tom Neustrom "Slow and steady wins the race." I'm a disciple of the philosophy. In real life, the examples are countless. Consider the marathoner. The guy who paces himself for 26.2 miles is sure to pass the jackrabbit before reaching the tape. Same can be said of investing. Principle plus interest plus time is a proven formula. Speculative get rich quick schemes seldom succeed. This principle applies to fishing as well. Sometimes, neurotically motoring from spot to spot in whirlwind fashion produces fish - sometimes. More often, though, I adhere to the premise that you can't get bit w... more
River expert Bill Plantan never leaves home without 'em: a full battery of prerigged rods and reels The world's a harmonious place when Bill Plantan slides his canoe inconspicuously into the flow. A morning fog masks his craft, its intentions, and most of the river panorama. Unseen riffles trickle. Something crunches in the dried leaf litter, likely a squirrel, maybe an angler making his way down to the bank. In the distance an aroused turkey gobbles - it's that time of the year. The peacefulness deepens, too, as Plantan vectors into the current and parts the haze. Just ahead lays the first of many glossy pools of promise. He taps a particular combo, a topwater package, leaving a ... more
There are tricks that can make a fishing guide seem like a better angler than the average fisherman. There are a range of skill levels in fishing, from a guy who fishes National Tour Events to the guy that ties an overhand knot to attach a hook to his line. I would rate myself somewhere in between, maybe slightly above average. Not like some of my friends who can catch fish out of a bathtub. The most important thing an angler can have while fishing is confidence. When I go fishing, I don't care if the wind is blowing from the east or if we have just had a 20 degree cold front. I realize that fishing may be tough under certain conditions, but I've never caught a fish while at home. ... more
Understanding how water temperature impacts walleyes is vital to finding fish early in the season. A difference of a degree or two can mean the difference between no fish and a 100-walleye day. Take the time clients asked Greg to guide them specifically on Muskellunge Lake shortly after the Wisconsin walleye opener in May. The deep, clear-water lake would not have made his list if he were asked to come up with his top places to target at that time of year. They tried several places without luck before stopping to eat a sandwich and consider their options. As they munched away, the wind drifted the boat into a shallow bay. Greg noticed the temperature reading on his Humminbird 998c S... more

March 2010

My favorite time of the year for ice-fishing is getting closer all the time. While I really enjoy early ice and its potential for fast fishing, there's just something I enjoy more about the final three or four weeks of ice-fishing. Maybe it's the longer days, which mean you can fish later in the day with plenty of light. Maybe, it's the more moderate temperatures. You can fish comfortably this time of year with less clothing. Maybe it's the knowledge that the ice-fishing is winding down for the year and you're just enjoying it more because you know it's not going to be here much longer. Nope, none of the above. While all of those are good considerations, the reason I like ice... more
Late Ice Crappies by Dave Duwe
The warmer weather of March means the end of another long Wisconsin winter. The ice is becoming soft and can be dangerous, so always use caution. The end of the ice fishing season does offer one big benefit; some of the best crappie fishing of the year. The last ice period in late winter, I believe is better fishing than the first ice period. The fish are bigger preparing for their spring spawning ritual, and they are far more aggressive. I will try to protect the resource by releasing the bigger females and never keeping a limit. In addition, the warmer March weather makes fishing much more pleasant. Pre-dawn, dusk and night are the best times to catch late ice crappies. This is whe... more
My tax guy tells me I need to buy a new boat every five years. This is the year. My 1860 VSD Lund was ever faithful. But it's time for her to go. With the Bush tax cuts set to expire the end of this year, I suspect many folks who fish for a living are pondering accelerated depreciation schedules on their "offices" too. Those of you who have shared my 1860 VSD know she was a great boat to fish out of. A wonderful watercraft for covert operations-just a glorified flatbottom with a 75 E-Tech on the stern and a big yellow Lab on watch in the bow. The livewell on that boat wasn't big enough. Seating was less than comfortable-especially when guiding three anglers. But it was a near perfect... more
The bend in the rod foretold the tale of the tape. This was not the pull of a walleye or even a pike for that matter. This fish had a purpose, which did not include making an appearance on the topside of the ice. Jenny fought the fish with all the skill of a professional. After a tense ten minute fight, Jenny stood triumphant on the ice with her fish in hand. Brad Bricco, our fishing guide for the day, stood by with a Cheshire grin. If there was a cannery on the loose, I know who ate it. Bricco gave a nod, knowing full well that he had accomplished his goal for the day. He had put Jenny on her first steelhead thru the ice and she did the rest. Not to rest on her laurels, Jenny qui... more
Walleyes Come as No Fluke by Brian "Bro" Brosdahl
Brian "Bro" Brosdahl with Mark Courts Admittedly, I'm a meat and potatoes sort of guy. I'm eyeing the porterhouse steak on the menu long before the canary food, organic "meals under 500 calories". In fact, I'll take the whole right side of the menu, please. This instinctive weakness for hearty meat translates to my walleye fishing as well. Nine out of ten times I'm elbowing my way to the biggest minnow, not thinking much about soft plastic alternatives. Give me minnows, or give me death…or perhaps something less dramatic, but along those lines. With that said, I mean no disrespect to guys who put their trust in plastics, sometimes choosing them over live minnows, leeches, and cra... more

February 2010

Creating "Medusa's Head" with maggots popularized by ice fishing pacesetter Brian "Bro" Brosdahl Warning to panfish everywhere: Don't look into her eyes, or at that living crown of writhing maggots for that matter. If you're lucky, it's Stonehenge for you, and a safe sink to the bottom of the lake. If you're unlucky, it's a treble hook in the maw and a one way ticket to the frying pan. What Brian "Bro" Brosdahl has dubbed "baiting up with Medusa's Head" is stonewalling giant panfish across the Ice Belt. The finished package, as the name implies, mimics, in a miniaturized way, the slithering snakes that turned Greek hairdressers into geologists…BC. Medusa's Head, ala Bro, is fashi... more
It's that time in the ice-fishing season when we really need to start fine-tuning our presentations if we want to experience ice-fishing success. The easy ones have been caught, and the remaining fish have been pounded pretty good by this point of the season, especially on the community holes or if you're fishing out of a shelter that hasn't been moved. This is when lure action become a very important consideration. Perhaps the most important tool when you're trying to determine the appropriate lure action is a good sonar unit. A good sonar will reveal fish and your lure. How the fish react to your lure will give you some clues as to proper lure action. On my last ice-fishing trip my... more
The Madison Fishing Expo (MFE) will be celebrating its 25th year February 26th through the 28th with one of its largest shows ever with more speakers than ever before. Chuck Rolfsmeyer, President of the show, said they have come a long way in their 25-years. "It's hard to believe that this show has grown to what it is from where it started," he said. "When this started out we were a bunch of guys who wanted to promote the sport of fishing but had no idea how to run a sport show. Now, it's one of the largest all-fishing shows in the country." To celebrate the anniversary of the show, MFE will be allowing all current and retired military, and their immediate family, into the show f... more
Open that Door! by Ted Peck
Door County, Wisconsin has been one of my favorite fishing destinations for over 30 years. This is a place where you want to bring all the gear-from downrigger rods to perch jerkin' tackle-because the bite will always be good but finding the best action is a study in versatility. Packing for a roadie to Wisconsin's thumb is a little easier this time of year. All you need is the ice fishing stuff: tip-ups for pike and brown trout, jigging sticks for walleyes and whitefish. A GPS and compass are must have items. You'll want to bring a portable shanty, Vexilar and power drill. Driving on the Door County ice isn't a real good idea this winter. But it's a long, long way out to most of th... more
Reluctantly biting fish and the need for well-tuned electronics…everywhere lakes freeze, these two themes figure largely into the schemes of ice anglers. So it was during the 2009 North American Ice Fishing Championship. Eighty-four of North America's finest ice angling teams recently converged on Boom Lake, Wisconsin to test their skills against both finicky fish and extreme fishing pressure. At stake, $25,000 cash and the right to be called Ice Fishing Champions. Over the course of the 2009 NAIFC tournament season, teams had fished seven regional events which ultimately determined qualifiers for the big show. Returning for another run at the title were such notable teams as Boshold... more

January 2010

There is no doubt electronics will improve your ice fishing success by at least 75 percent. Both an underwater camera and sonar flasher unit will help you put more fish on the ice. Which is better? Ask two old bucketeers what they think about either electronics or choice of underwear and you'll eventually get the same response. Camera or flasher? Boxers or briefs? Depends. If you're an ice fishing addict, the obvious answer is "both". The downside of this response is two-fold : you can only carry so much gear and the checkbook contains a limited number of checks. At $300-500 per unit you may have to choose like a wise Latina. You might base choice on how deep you usually fish... more
Hand to Fin Combat by Brian "Bro" Brosdahl
A proven pattern for hooking gargantuan pike during early ice Up above, I tiptoe across the frozen shallows maintaining a low profile. Stealth is a big part of the game. Down below, however, it's more like lions in the Coliseum tearing and tossing-down everything with blood running through its veins. That's what it's like in early winter when northern pike slash through the shallows with hearty appetites and an equal amount of recklessness. These apex predators spent most of late autumn roaming the basin, tracking along offshore humps and deeper secondary breaks. With the flip of a switch, though, they head straight for the shallows - 4 to 12 feet of water - when the surface water s... more
Hole Hopping by Dave Duwe
How can I catch more fish? This question has haunted some ice fishermen for years. The answer is really very simple, hole hopping. Hole hopping is aggressively moving from ice fishing hole to hole searching for the active, feeding fish. My favorite fish to ice fish for are bluegills. In most lakes, they tend to stay in shallow weeds (4-8 ft of water). The shallow water has everything that bluegill require, food and cover from predators. In years past, I have employed a hole hopping technique however only in the recent years have I had the proper equipment to make this technique deadly. The two most important pieces of equipment is a long pole (42"-48") and a long handle skimmer. ... more
Fish under the ice, just like fish in open water, sometimes get finicky. It seems that they just don't want to open their mouths to take the bait we have down there. Here are some ideas for getting fish to eat your bait when they don't seem to want to. First of all, if they're not eating the bait you're showing them, show them something else. However, showing them something else doesn't necessarily mean you need to change baits, you just might need to change the way you're showing them the bait. For instance, let's say you're fishing walleyes and you have a Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon down there. You can see on your depth finder that fish are coming in and looking at the bait. They're ... more
Search And Destroy by Tony Roach
"New Wave" Fish Finding Tactics on Ice When you spend your winters guiding on a huge lake like Central Minnesota's Mille Lacs, doing all the things it takes to find biting fish can test your resolve. There's only one way to the fish - drilling lots and lots of holes. My guides and I sometimes spend entire days doing nothing but searching-one guy drills, another dude scans with an underwater camera. Often, we'll grind out three or four hundred holes in the space of a 9 hour day. It isn't always pretty, and more often than not, the best way to find fish isn't the easiest way. But man does it pay off. We can usually stay well ahead of the crowds, keeping big schools of untouched fish to our... more

December 2009

When a person goes fishing, they want to catch a fish, or better yet, several fish. That's true whether we're talking ice-fishing or open-water fishing. Sure it's fun to watch the wildlife and the setting sun and spend time with family and friends, but it's a lot more fun to catch fish than not catch fish when you go fishing. Here are some ideas for catching more fish through the ice in the next few months. When fishing is slow, get as many lines in the water as possible. Be very sure that you know the rules of where you're fishing when it comes to the number of lines you can have in the water. Some states in the Midwest allow two lines, others permit more. Know how many you can hav... more
For many years, my father and I were plagued with catching only 5 to 6 inch bluegills while ice fishing in the shallow weed flats. My how things have changed, with Vexilars and other fish locators, 5-6 inch bluegills are a thing of the past. The ability to see underneath the ice opened up the deep water structure on many local lakes. With fish locators, ice fishermen can now work the deep water locations where the larger bluegills reside. When I say deep water locations, I'm referring to are anywhere from 18-30 ft. The deep water bluegill bite relies on clear water, enabling weeds to grow to depths of 20-27 ft. Some of the best deep water bluegill lakes in SE Wisconsin are Littl... more
Survival Fishing by Ted Peck
The hardwater season is coming late to the upper Midwest this year. Will 2010 be a year where we're back in boats by mid-February or will we still view tip-ups as the gamefish weapon of choice when turkey season is part of the agenda? A bucket will be the primary boat seat for 6-14 weeks for most Lake-Linkers no matter how winter shakes out. Might as well make the best of it. Panfish get the lion's share of attention from the bucket crowd. In some lakes a large portion of the panfish biomass goes deep to hover just off the bottom in the mid-lake basin during the heart of the cold water period, becoming active only for brief periods at dawn, dusk and when a snowstorm is blowing through. ... more

November 2009

Don't Fish Memories by Bob Jensen
Fishing is a great way to create memories. I have very fond memories of sunrises and sunsets on the water, my first musky, my first truly big walleye, my nephew's first overnight fishing trip, and lots of wonderful times spent in the boat fishing with family and friends. Most anglers have lots of great memories related to fishing. But if you want to catch more fish, you have to be careful that you don't fish memories. Here's what I mean. Let's say you were on Lake Lotsa Fish last autumn. You caught'em really good on Big Fish Point on an XYZ lure. You return to Lake Lotsa Fish this year at the same time. You figure you know where you caught'em last year, and you know what you ca... more
The North American Ice Fishing Championship (NAIFC) team of Captains Joe Pikulski and Myron Gilbert are on to something. Last year, the dynamic Michigan duo—both Great Lakes charter boat captains in the “off season”—took home their fourth NAIFC Team of the Year title, in nearly as many winters. Helping cement their win, the boys took two 3rd place finishes, a 5th, and various other top tens. In 2008, they dominated the highly competitive field, notching wins at Wamplers Lake, Michigan, as well as the NAIFC Championship at Boom Lake, Wisconsin. To say that Joe and Myron have mastered the art of icing big panfish is putting it mildly. The reality, of course, is that Joe and Myron just pl... more
With so many hunting and fishing options crappies are all but ignored between now and first ice, even though some of the year's best opportunities for a nice sack of slabs occurs over the next 30 days. I would rather fish crappies on a river system than a lake. Chasing slabs in the fall is typically a boom or bust scenario. But wood is always part of the strategy. On a huge river like the Mississippi crappies like to suspend about four feet down on woody cover with a bottom depth of 10-14 feet. On small to medium rivers check snags and driftpiles next to-but not in current. On Ol' Man River target primarily running sloughs and backwaters off of the main channel. Many of these running... more
I relate back to my days as a guide quite often in articles. Still to this day, it is my main foundation of musky memories and knowledge. Admittedly, I still rely on it a lot in my writing since it involved so many experiences over time. This past winter, someone in the audience at a musky seminar asked me the question "why are some anglers more successful than others"? As I attempted to answer this question, I realized that perhaps we've made musky fishing way more complicated than it needs to be. Is it really that difficult? Is musky success, particularly with bigger fish, unattainable to the masses? Do we really need all these new lures, electronics and other gadgets that are... more

October 2009

The task of actually picking a stand site can be one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of a hunt. When a stand is "right", you're surely going to get some action. When it is "wrong", you'll likely be staring at a lot of trees, but few if any deer. Countless outings perched in treestands over promising spots has taught me many lessons both good and bad. Here's a sampling of what I've learned that should help you pick a good stand site this season. Spend lots of time scouting the immediate area during the preseason before actually commiting yourself to hunt at any location. Make certain there is obvious old and current deer sign. The term "deer sign" basically asks this q... more
Bobby’s Tackle Box by Scott Ehricke
I received an E-mail from a young boy who was interested in going out on a guided trip with me. He told me that he had seen me on TV and had visited my website several times and that he was saving up his money from cutting lawns and helping out around home so he could go fishing with me. He asked me how much the trip was going to cost and I told him that it was $225 for a five-hour trip. He told me that he had only about half of the money and he would call me when he had the rest. I did not give it too much thought because I receive a lot of E-mails from people inquiring about guided trips out on Lake Winnebago. Well, about 2 months later I receive a call that this young boy had all... more
After a long season of guiding, running to flag football games and my daughters dance classes; I can now find the time to take my son fishing. When I take my son and friends out fishing I can remember how relaxing and fun fishing is. The fishing I enjoy most this time of year is bluegill fishing. They are abundant and seem to be always biting. My son judges the success of the trip on how many fish can be brought home to eat. For 61 lbs, he can eat more fish than any 300 lb man! He often mentions that if we don't keep any fish to eat, he won't tip me. He doesn't realize that the $1 he gives me doesn't even cover the gas to get us out past the no-wake buoys. In early October, the blue... more
Every serious angler has a favorite fish which they pursue with some degree of passion. Many chase Wisconsin's state fish: the muskie. DNR surveys indicate the walleye is our most popular gamefish. Some find happiness in a nice stringer of panfish. Bass are a favorite target in this part of the state, but don't cause much of a stir in the northcountry. Smallmouth bass are generally considered more worthy adversaries than largemouth bass. Although these two species are both members of the sunfish family, they are entirely different critters. The same dichotomy is clear in catfish. Channel cats are more abundant. They tend to run smaller than flathead catfish and will eat just about a... more
It's the end of September. Autumn is here. The fall season presents lots of great fishing opportunities for big fish and lots of fish. Wherever you live in the Midwest, there's some sort of fishing close by that will be peaking in the next few weeks. Following are some ideas for cashing in on those fishing opportunities. If you like to catch crappies, and if you have a body of water nearby that is home to a good population of crappies, now is the time to take advantage of them. In the fall, crappies will school up. When you find a school, you can expect to get bit if you do things the right way. In many Midwest lakes that have crappies, you can expect to find them in deep water. ... more

September 2009

With Tony Roach... Nearly fifty years after the inception of the modern live-bait rig-what's today known simply as the 'Roach Rig'-its sheer effectiveness still raises eyebrows and turns heads. Take a vigorously squirming minnow, nightcrawler or leech, and couple it with a hook, leader and sliding sinker and you're fishing the deadliest walleye presentation of all time. Get a natural, lively bait to the bottom, and just start creeping your way along fruitful structure. Sooner or later, a walleye is going to eat. It's just that simple. Well, sort of. During the same fifty years, a number of nice little developments have transformed a serviceable bait delivery vehicle into a precision ... more
In late summer and early fall, smallmouth bass will school up in the deep reaches of a lake. Most of the time, this phenomenon happens on lakes that have a thermocline. A thermocline is the separation in a lake between the warm surface water and the colder water near the bottom. This happens because the warmer surface water is lighter than the cooler water down deep. It makes the lake stratified like a layer cake. There are several lakes that fit the bill for deep smallmouth bass in southeastern WI my favorites are Lake Mendota in Dane County, Lake Geneva in Walworth County and Pine Lake in Waukesha County. Smallmouth bass prefer areas of scattered weeds and rock. The main forage ... more
September is and will always be one of my favorite months of the year to fish the Winnebago system. The temperatures have a fall feel to them during the day and night, the bugs have typically gone away, there is a lot less boat traffic due to the pleasure boats not being out so often and the kids are all back in school. A lot of avid fishermen are now getting ready for the upcoming bow season, or a lot of fishermen are now starting to chase muskies up in Green Bay. These are all great reasons to get out on Lake Winnebago and start catching some walleyes. Typically, you have the whole lake to yourself during the week and now's the time to learn the lake better, try new techniques and enjoy th... more
The fall season is a great time to go fishing. If you're looking for a true trophy, autumn is a good time to achieve that goal. If you're interested in catching a few fish for the table, you can do that in the fall period also. And, if you want to experience some spectacular colors in the trees, see wildlife, sometimes have the lake to yourself, and just generally be outside during a really nice time of year, you can't beat the autumn season. However, in some lakes across the Midwest there is a brief period of time when fishing can get tough. This event is called the turnover. It doesn't happen at the same time on all lakes, and in fact it doesn't even happen on all lakes. When it... more
When I close my eyes for a 15 minute catnap and see my beloved Mississippi it's time to get away for a few days. Old Man River meets almost every fishing need. There are just two exceptions-salmon and muskies. The salmon itch has been well scratched this summer with a half-dozen forays to Algoma, Sheboygan and Racine. But the need to see a substantial Esox masquinongy charging wildly at a Top Raider just isn't going to happen on pool 9. One question I hope to ask the Creator someday is why aren't there any muskies in the Mississippi River? There are plenty of these toothers in the Rock, St. Croix and Wisconsin Rivers-all Mississippi River tribs, but few-if any-in the Father of Waters. A h... more

August 2009

Fish For The Biters by Bob Jensen
When anglers go fishing, they want to catch a fish. In fact, they want to catch lots of fish. While you're probably not going to always catch lots of fish, there are some things that anglers can do to increase their odds of getting bit. Finding the biters is a big part of catching fish. We frequently emphasize that to consistently catch fish, first you've got to find the fish. However, at times just finding the fish isn't enough. You've got to find the fish that are willing to eat your bait. You might have a bunch of walleyes hovering off the edge of a deep water structure, and just a few walleyes on the top of that same structure. While it's tempting to work the big school of fish... more
It's Time For A Change by Scott Ehricke
Well, here we are at the month of August and most of you are probably scratching your heads and wondering why you are not catching as many walleyes as you did in May, June, and July. The fish have not gone away, they have not all been caught, they are there, and you just need to make some changes. There are several reasons for this and I am going to try and explain what we do a little different in the month of August to get more walleyes out of the lake and into our box. One of the biggest problems I notice when heading out to Lake Winnebago with my clients or friends, is that people have the tendency to fish memories. What I mean by this is that because you went to a certain spot earlier... more
One of the enjoyable aspects of writing fishing articles and giving seminars has been all the fellow anglers I've met and gotten to know. Troy Stoeger, from Appleton, read one of my articles on Lake-Link and e-mailed me about our shared interest in wading for river smallmouth bass. He told me about his success on the Fox River in the Appleton area and invited me to drive up and join him. I finally took him up on his offer and we met in Appleton at 9 a.m. on Sunday, July 18. I followed Troy to his first spot and as we pulled on the waders and checked our gear, I was intrigued by this urban setting. The day was beautiful with temperatures reaching 75 degrees, a light wind and a few cl... more
An hour long phone conversation with Lake-Link's Darin Novak prompted this month's article. You won't find information on fooling August smallmouth or late summer panfish in the words that follow-although this is really what I want to tell you about. If you're a Lake-Link member you're already somewhere between passion and obsession when it comes to fishing. At some point along the way you've probably entertained thoughts about being a fishing guide or an outdoor writer or a fishing tackle pro staffer or a top tournament angler. Americans are wired to excel. It's only natural that those who see fishing as more than just a pastime would like some recognition beyond being just another ... more
Summer Perchin' by Steve Ryan
Perch fishing is one of summer's simple pleasures. As a kid, I recall waiting all winter for the first warm days of summer to head down to the 'Lake' for some jumbos. A can of crawlers or a bucket full of minnows was all that you needed to catch a stringer of perch. Lake Michigan's perch fishery has changed considerably over the last several decades but the methods for catching these tasty fish remains the same. Crappie spreaders, Lindy rigs, jigs and slip floats will catch you a limit of perch no matter where you fish. These rigs are nothing more than bait delivery systems designed to present live bait to fish in the most effective method possible. Baits for tipping these rigs vary... more
Summer’s Triple Play by Ted Pilgrim
Top guides reveal three tricks for tagging fish at the plate Every guide worth his salt has one. You know, that sneaky trick up his sleeve that always keeps his clients' rods bent. Cold fronts, breathless firecracker days, July blizzards (it could happen)-the conditions are almost beside the point. These slick tricks simply catch fish, atmospheric conditions losing their bark and bite. Ask any guide: when times get tough in mid to late summer, it's real nice to know you've got that ace bait awaiting deployment. In my own guiding days, the golden ticket was a Gopher Bait Spin tipped with a minnow. Throw these simple contraptions behind the boat, start driving around the weededge, and ... more

July 2009

Family Fishing Fun by Dave Duwe
"That is a German Brown Trout" I told my son Nathan when he caught a 12 lb carp. I have never seen him more proud. The tourists walking by the dock were very impressed. They asked Nathan what kind of fish it was and he explained it was a German Brown Trout, I started to laugh and the tourist looked mad. I had to tell everyone, including my son, it was actually a carp. Of course, being 6 years old, my son wanted to keep the fish, so we did. I knew it was going to help my tomatoes grow in the garden however, he thought we were going to eat it. I don't even know how to clean a carp. After a great deal of discussion, it is fertilizer. Being a busy fishing guide, summers are t... more
One of the biggest mistakes in my college career was taking Greek Philosophy 481. This was an advanced course for philosophy students. Not a good choice for a journalism major who selected the class because the time fit his fishing plans. Besides a welcome "D" this class produced two epiphanies: philosophy students would rather talk about work than actually working-and a man can not step into the same river twice. I couldn't tell you the name of this old Greek, or the other Greek who opined you can't step into the same river once. A lifetime spent fishing the Mississippi reveals both of these ancient wise men were pretty much on target.Finding a consistently productive fishing pattern on Th... more
Rember When... by Scott Ehricke
I can remember growing up in Appleton,WI and I always looking forward to the upcoming walleye run and whitebass run. You see, my uncle used to drive down from Fremont and pick me up and take me with him. I was only 6 or 7 at the time, but I remember it like it was yesterday. He had this old 16 foot boat, with a piece of plywood on the bottom, so it was flat, we had some old rods and reels, and most of them were covered in scales and debris from all the other fishing trips he went on. Sometimes they were covered in duck feathers too, although I never remember catching ducks out of that boat. We had a pail of minnows, and an old 25 horsepower Johnson. It really never mattered where we wen... more
Summer offers some of the easiest walleye fishing to be had throughout the year. Forget the talk about dog days of summer. Walleye enjoy a nice summer day as much as anyone in the Midwest. Over the last decade, crawler harnesses and spinner rigs have likely won more tournaments for competitive walleye anglers than any other lure or bait system. Yet many casual anglers have still not embraced these rigs. That means catching far fewer walleye throughout the summer months. Any new fishing technique brings a certain intimidation factor. To get over that you either need to jump in blindly or tap on the experience of someone who has master this approach. Lynn Niklasch, a fishing profession... more
Work a Weedline by Bob Jensen
As summer progresses, gamefish throughout the Midwest will be found in a variety of areas in a body of water. They are looking for food, and, depending on the lake, food can be found in a variety of areas. In some lakes, walleyes will be feeding on perch in deep water. In other lakes, largemouth bass will be eating suspended shad. Northern pike can be found chasing oily baitfish off deep points, and crappies will be hanging out around brush-piles. And, in lakes that have good deep weedlines, you'll be able to find walleyes, largemouth, pike and crappies along those weedlines. No doubt, weedlines can provide consistent fishing throughout the summer. Here's how to take advantage of ... more

June 2009

Sunglasses are not only an outdoor person's friend, but an integral part of our tool chest. In addition to reducing glare to help locate underwater structure, they also provide much needed protection. However, in the world of sunglasses, there are many different levels of quality. Choosing a pair solely by how they look on you or by the lowest price is not your best bet. There are four basic things to remember when purchasing your next pair of sunglasses for fishing: 100% UV/100% Polarized built to last, durable snug, comfortable fit a lifetime warranty Ultraviolet Light (UV) UVA is of particular concern to eyecare professionals because it can easily damage the retina... more
During the past 14 plus years, I've had the good fortune and pleasure of spending 125 days chasing smallies in Door County. Throughout, my efforts have been rewarded with having caught and released hundreds of smallies. Like many of you who have fished this area, or fished for lake smallies in general, I have tried a plethora of lures. I've always tried, however, to keep it simple and not over do it. I think I've done a good job of narrowing my Door County presentations to those that work best, based on research, talking with others and through my own experience. One presentation that usually is near the top of most Door County lists, and now at the top of mine, is swimming a grub o... more
Nothing puts the pin in a fishing party hog faster than being forced to contend with discourteous boaters. Natural Resource organizations in many states-Wisconsin included-require young boaters to successfully complete a boating safety course before piloting a watercraft. I think all boaters should be required to show proficiency in boat operation. Further, course content should include information on boating courtesy beyond what is required by law. Some discourteous boaters are simply ignorant of unwritten rules out there on the water. Some are aware but operating on their own agenda. A few are intentionally obnoxious . If you're a new boater and really want to do the right thing, pl... more
Trolling for walleyes on Lake Winnebago can be very difficult at times. I have written this article here with hope that this will help you out in your quest to catch the elusive walleye on Lake Winnebago. If you are going to troll with crank baits, do yourself a favor, and go and buy the book, Precision Trolling. This book shows all the depth curves for almost every crank bait known. It is about $25.00 and can be found at any Gander Mountain, Wal-Mart, or Cabelas. Make sure while trolling, you put a few baits high in the water column. Too many times I see people with all their baits tight to the bottom, and at the end of the day, they have nothing to show for their work. Wal... more
The Midwest is blessed with all sorts of fishing opportunities. Lakes, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs dot our landscape. Wherever you live, you don't need to drive far to wet a line. Rivers can provide some outstanding fishing action throughout the summer. Actually, rivers can be good year 'round, especially the larger rivers. However, in the summer, small, medium, and large rivers can provide anglers with action from a wide variety of fish species. Sometimes, in the heat of the summer, lakes can get tough to fish. The fish in rivers however, just keep eating. Rivers have current, so fish in rivers are constantly expending energy. To sustain their energy, they need to eat more of... more

May 2009

A Family Fishing Trip by Jason Boser
We could talk about how to catch the big walleyes, Northerns, slab Crappies, big bull sunfish, or even big jumbo perch But I am going to talk about a nice day on the lake getting our next generation into fishing. Just some tips on getting our younger generation hooked on fishing. I hear all the time from kids "fishing is boring" and if you are a young kid sitting in the boat for 3-4 hours with nothing on the end of your line, Dad and Mom hollering about making a mess, it would be boring. So how do you get them interested in fishing? Number one for me is to get them their own equipment. It does not have to be a 100 dollar St Croix or nothing like that, just a rod and reel that fits their... more
For trophy panfish sleuths today, it's all about staying two steps ahead of the pack; going where crowds of anglers haven't been for a while. Sometimes, it's a simple matter of circling back to lakes that were hot several seasons back. But from a broader perspective, the game has changed. Most of the smaller, more obvious lakes have been plucked of their panfish gems. Sad but true. Fortunately, there's a golden alternative. These are waters that grow 'gills and crappies of ponderous proportion; where panfish live obscure existences, free from hooks and lines. Before we continue, though, we've got a deal for you-a rare opportunity, in fact, to join that select group of insiders wh... more
It's here or very near! Wherever you live in the Midwest, walleye season is open or very close to opening. The next few weeks will see lots of anglers trying to catch walleyes. Here are some ways to increase your odds for walleye success early in the season. Early in the season the water is cold. Walleyes like slow moving baits in these conditions. We can present a bait slowly several different ways. Early in the year, we're going to be finding lots of walleyes in water less than ten feet deep, with the four to seven foot range being particularly good depending on the body of water. We'll be doing a lot of casting. Probably the most popular early season walleye presentation is... more
Jiggin The Reefs by Scott Ehricke
Fishing the reefs on Lake Winnebago can be difficult if you do not know the proper method of doing it. I am going to explain to you a method that we use, that seems to do the trick. I hope this helps you put more fish in the live well, and also gives you a few answers as to why some people are catching fish on the reefs, and others are not. I get a kick out of seeing 15-20 boats all sitting on the same reef or in the same area trying to catch the same fish. They think that just because there is a reef there, that the fish must be there or they think well look at all the boats over there, they must be catching fish. Well the truth of the matter is, that maybe one or two of those boat... more
Milk Run Catfish by Ted Peck
Not long ago a young man asked me which stretch of Rock River offered the best catfishing. The honest answer is 'that run of river you happen to be fishing at any given time'. The first couple miles above Lake Koshkonong is a great place to get your string stretched. So is that mile or so of the Rock from the Jefferson dam to the school. Fishing around Fort Atkinson is pretty good as well. On a busy weekend you can hide from speeding boats and catch channel cats below the Indianford dam or from the county park up to Afton…if you aren't afraid of a little prop damage. Between now and Memorial Day when pleasure boats crowd the river the generally quiet run of Rock River between Portl... more
Stick Time by Dave Duwe
Late spring and Early Summer is the best time to try Stick baits for Largemouth Bass. How can something that has no action catch fish? These round plastic baits are tapered like a straight banana. I'm talking about Senkos, Yum Dingers, or All- Terrain Sticks. There's just not a lot to them but, to fish, they seem to hold some appeal. Everything about fishing the bait is simple. What could be easier than spinner baits; cast the bait out and reel it in. The stick bait is even easier; cast it out and do basically nothing, let it sink, work it in a foot or so, let it sink and so on. Lesser amounts of action equal greater numbers of strikes. For me, the initial fall of the lure is th... more

April 2009

Pretty much wherever you live in the Midwest, there are walleyes just waiting for you to catch them right now. Some states have a closed season on 'eyes, but with just a little driving, you can get to areas that have walleye fishing happening as you read this. Following are some ways to get in on the action. Much of the walleyes that are being caught this time of year are being caught in rivers. While some lakes still have an icy cover, rivers are open. As the water warms, as the days get longer, and as the current increases, the walleyes feel the urge to start spawning. They've probably been feeling that urge for some time now, but the warmer water and other changes move them clos... more
It's A Small World by Dave Duwe
From the frozen river to a Florida reef, what a difference a week can make. On February 16th, FLW Touring Pro Brad Davis and I hit the Wisconsin River near the Wisconsin Dells. We literally "hit" the river, there were ice flows, a lot of ice flows, as the river had only been open for a couple of days when we arrived. When I left my house that day, the thermometer read 6 degrees, which I had thought must have been some kind of error, but Brad confirmed that he too saw and felt single digit temps. I anticipated a slow day, maybe 8 or 10 fish, so I was pleasantly surprised when our 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. trip yielded 30-40 walleyes and saugers, and 3 of them were over 15 inches. The best bait... more
Recent posts on the Pool 9-Genoa link confirm our human tendencies to make predictions on fish behavior based on limited information. It's human nature to see somebody catch a fish and try to mimic their behavior or to honestly believe walleyes are about to spawn on the Mississippi River in mid-March simply because the surface water temperature has warmed to 45 degrees. Surface temperatures on several running sloughs off of the main channel warmed briefly to 47-48 degrees around spring's official arrival on March 20, driven by sunny days with air temperatures warming to the mid-70's. Conventional wisdom says walleyes spawn when waters warm to 47-48. But there is more to the Creator's... more
Back in early February, I had the pleasure of fishing for butterfly peacock bass southwest of Ft. Lauderdale with Wisconsin friend Steve Starr. During the heart of winter in Wisconsin, it was a wonderful treat, and I had the good fortune to catch an 18" peacock bass. If you would like to read about that day, check out the article, "Road Trip Peacock Bass," from last month. After fishing the canals and small lakes in Steve's Wildnernes Systems sit-on-top kayaks, I was looking forward to giving it another shot. I was hoping for sometime next winter, but fortunately for me, a work-related trip took me back late last month. So, on Sunday, March 29, Steve and I hit the same system of can... more

March 2009

Crappies After Dark by Dave Duwe
Night time is the right time. As the end of the ice fishing season draws near, some of the best night time crappie action can be had. The warmer spring nights makes early March ice fishing some of the most comfortable of the year. For late ice night fishing, I prefer fishing for the suspended crappies. I work 20-35 ft of water in the main lake basin. Focus on the locations where the basin comes tight to a steep weedline or a point. Crappies this time of year like to suspend. They will be at least 5 to 10 ft off bottom. A good fish locator is imperative to success. It will help determine where the fish are positioned in the water column. My choice is a Vexilar FL-12 with a 12" co... more
My Dad was a wealth of homilies and old guy sayings which still whisper in my ear, even though he's been gone for almost 20 years now. One which comes to mind almost every day is "the best way to get two rods tangled is to get them within 10 feet of each other". Others don't come to mind so often but are equally profound. "In March you can gain a week on spring for every hundred miles traveled south." Dad didn't much care for winter. He used to spend this dreary month somewhere in Arkansas, Texas or Missouri. Wanderlust for green grass, tee shirts and the year's first sunburn pulls me away from home every year about this time. Interstate highways have added Florida, Mississippi, Ala... more
There's still lots of ice-fishing left in the winter of 2009, but I've been doing some thinking about the upcoming open water season. Those of us who live in the Midwest have lots to look forward to when it comes to fishing. I say it a lot, and I'm going to continue to say it: If you live in the Midwest, you have many outstanding fishing opportunities available to you. There are lots of rivers, lakes, reservoirs, flowages, ponds and streams that are full of fish within an easy and inexpensive drive of your home. Some of these water systems have lots of fish, some have big fish, and a good number of them have lots of big fish. Action will start as soon as the ice goes out. In some ... more
Road Trip Peacock Bass by Bill Schultz
It's winter in Wisconsin. I'm not an ice fisherman, and I haven't fished open water since late October. The wait is getting to me, especially with our "old time" winters of the past two years. Last year, I had a chance to fish smallmouth bass on the Potomac River around April 1, which helped. Last month, I was in Naples, Fla., running a conference. A friend from Madison, Steve Starr, who now calls Ft. Lauderdale home, said that if I had time while in Florida, to drive over to the Ft. Lauderdale area for some peacock bass fishing. He didn't have to ask twice. Steve has done quite a bit of smallie fishing in Wisconsin, and in Florida, enjoys fishing for both saltwater species and the freshw... more

February 2009

9 Hot February Panfish Waters by Lawrence Van Veghel
Panfishing is piscatorial pleasure, and this outstanding pastime presents us with great-tasting, low cholesterol fish dinners. Petite February teases anglers with the possibilities of productive panfishing. Here are nine Wisconsin waters rivaling any panfish producing pond in our state. WINNEBAGO Perch are the anglers' prized panfish in Winnebago County's 137,708 acre and 21 foot deep Lake Winnebago. This huge pond is surrounded by access points. Take along a good compass, and think ice safety. Even the most experienced anglers have perplexed their hippocampuses during blizzards, white outs and pallid fogs. Popular spots are off of Oshkosh, Pipe, Quinney, and Brothertown. Us... more
There is no doubt ice fishers are playing the 'back nine' of Winter in Wisconsin. But make no mistake, the hardwater season is far from over. Environmental changes below the ice are changing behavior in panfish, forcing successful anglers to adapt if they want to put some fish in the frying pan. Barring a truly bizarre change in weather we should still have "good" ice for another 3-4 weeks on smaller inland lakes and backwaters of the Mississippi. Southern Wisconsin waters I've fished over the past several weeks have between 8-22 inches of pretty much clear ice, although the ice sheath is starting to thin around the edges in some fisheries. Runoff from snowmelt causes drastic changes unde... more
New Trout Pond Among Events The Madison Fishing Expo (MFE) will be held February 27-March 1 at the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center, and along with a new trout pond will feature a star-studded cast of seminar speakers and several kid-friendly events. As always, the show will donate all proceeds to bettering fishing right here in Wisconsin and kids 12 and under are free. According to Chuck Rolfsmeyer, MFE President, they have a seminar line up that is sure to please. "We again have a truly diverse group of speakers from local experts to national celebrities offering topics for nearly anything that swims in Wisconsin. We'll even have a special ice fishing seminar from Jim... more
Northern Pike Nirvana by Steve Ryan
Most claim that it doesn't exist. Others whisper in low tones about its possible location. Notes are passed. Satellite images studied. GPS coordinants exchanged. Like chasing the end of a rainbow, the end point keeps shifting. Some prospect the feeder creeks of the Yukon River in Alaska. Others claim it must be in Ireland's fabled sloughs or Sweden's vast Baltic Sea region. Still others ponder if it's a little hidden gem in their own backyard. Having experienced northern pike nirvana last March, I can tell you that it does exist and I will even share its location with you. For dedicated pike anglers, it's a fairly 'easy' one day travel from most places in North America. It's a... more
We're quite a ways into the ice-fishing season. It's about this time every year, after we've been on the ice a few times, when we realize that we've learned or re-learned some things that can contribute to ice-fishing success. Following are some things I've learned or re-learned so far this ice-fishing season. If you're driving your truck on the ice, don't get stuck in four wheel drive. If you encounter heavy snow cover on the ice, don't put the truck in four wheel drive and keep going. Four wheel drive allows you to get stuck in more inaccessible places. Get stuck in two wheel drive, back up in four wheel drive. We've had a lot of wind this year. If you're fishing from a porta... more

January 2009

For many years, my father and I were plagued with catching only 5 to 6 inch bluegills while ice fishing in the shallow weed flats. My how things have changed, with Vexilars and other fish locators, 5-6 inch bluegills are a thing of the past. The ability to see underneath the ice opened up the deep water structure on many local lakes. With fish locators, ice fishermen can now work the deep water locations where the larger bluegills reside. When I say deep water locations, I'm referring to are anywhere from 18-30 ft. The deep water bluegill bite relies on clear water, enabling weeds to grow to depths of 20-27 ft. Some of the best deep water bluegill lakes in SE Wisconsin are Littl... more
Pack away the tip-ups. Grab a jig rod in one hand, a small box of lures in the other and set off on the ice for a full day of pike action. No bait necessary. With a basic understanding of the movement of pike throughout the ice season and a few simple jigging techniques and tackle requirements, winter pike are easy prey. Sure, everyone has enjoyed some good days of pike fishing while monitoring a full allotment of tip-ups. Tip-ups are set early in the morning along a weed edge. You clear the holes of ice once or twice throughout the day and maybe even check on the bait. The tip-ups are never moved the entire day. The only fish that you have a chance to catch are those few pike patr... more
Thirty-one is a great number if you're talking walleye length. But when the home barometer needle hovers here you can bet the bite will be tough. The active feeding window for fish has been small lately….roughly the size of a peephole in the armored door of a crack house. Arctic high pressure has dominated the for over a week now, no surprise with January weather arriving a month later than usual here in the stateline. Icing a nice mess of fish for the next week or so is all about timing. You've got to be out there when the groundhog can't see his shadow. Crappies on Delavan Lake are snuggled into the night bite mode, pensively nibbling minnow heads impaled on Hali jigs about halfwa... more
Mobility On The Ice by Bob Jensen
As we get farther into the ice-fishing season, things change a bit. We still need to put our bait in front of a fish if we want to be successful, but we need to be a little more aggressive in our search for fish. Early in the season, because of thin ice and minimal snow cover, the fish can see activity above them very easily, and that can make them spooky. The less activity the better, which means anglers should move around less. As the thickness of the ice increases, and as we get more snow, it's harder for the fish to detect activity above them. They also probably get conditioned to the noise and movement, so they aren't as easily spooked. Because the noise and motion isn't a... more
Women On The Ice by Barb Carey
I feel like a pioneer. Not because I'm aging and about to turn 50 but because I am one of few women I know that have a passion for ice fishing. As I began to become more involved in the sport I realized it isn't to often that you run into other women on the ice. Once in awhile a Dad would have his daughters out. I always tried to pay attention to the girls to see if Dad had provided them with a pole or if they were playing in the snow. I always smiled when I saw a little girl holding her pole starring at the hole with anticipation. Or better yet when they run towards a flag as fast as they can. I hope Dad lets her take the flag. Then there is the occasional husband and wife team. Usua... more

December 2008

I used to get a little misty eyed on November 30th each year because I knew it would be five months before I'd throw another lure at a musky. NOT ANYMORE!!! Musky fishing as I know it has changed forever, and even though Wisconsin's' musky season closed on Friday, there's plenty of excellent fishing to be had all winter long. Not just some little "action" lake, or another "over pressured" body of water, but one of the best musky factories I've seen. Is your heart beating? Are your palms starting to sweat? Do you want to know where this place is? Are you ready to go now??? Cave Run Lake just outside of Morehead, Kentucky is as good as it gets, and December is BIG fish month down there. One lo... more
When I drove by the local pond this morning, it was covered with a skim of ice. Certainly not enough ice to support a person, but nonetheless ice. This is the earliest I've seen ice on the pond for a long time. Maybe that indicates an early start to ice-fishing this year, or maybe not. It's a good reminder though, that now is the time to be thinking about early ice tactics. Panfish are an early ice favorite for many Midwest ice anglers. Here are some ideas as to how you can catch more bluegills, crappies, and the like through the ice as soon as that ice is safe to walk on. It is the belief of many accomplished ice-anglers that the number one factor for early ice success is keeping q... more
Fishing's 4th season howled into southern Wisconsin just after Thanksgiving, snap-freezing open water into walkable ice statewide virtually overnight. Most years the five-gallon bucket brigade migrates from sheltered areas like the "ditches" near Stoughton to Cherokee Marsh, Whalen's Grade, and sheltered bays of Madison lakes over a period of several weeks as the two inches of clear ice considered "safe" by hardwater anglers appears in these popular winter spots. Puckaway was covered with skim ice even before Thanksgiving. This year Wisconsin's ice angling fraternity has a buffet of options to choose from, a good 10 days before even the most avid have their gear dug out of a back cor... more
Ice Fishing by Barb Carey
I was raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a place where the deer out number the people by 4 to 1. I have always enjoyed the outdoors and fishing has been a pastime of mine as long as I can remember. In my younger days, I spent many summer days floating around in a 12 foot aluminum boat waiting for the big one to appear from the deep blue. In the winter we would trek out onto the frozen lake. The lake was surrounded by pine trees and the white snow went undisturbed. I was always so excited to be the one to mark the snow with our footprints as we walked to our favorite spot and put up the Tepee my father had made for these events. The older I got the busier I became and it seemed a... more
Everyone can stand to catch a few more panfish through the ice. However, ice anglers typically settle into a routine when they head out onto the ice. They catch several fish and then the action slows down or stops entirely. Maybe they change depths, colors, or holes a few times but that is about it. Once they stop catching fish based upon this routine, they quit and blame it on the fish - "they just stopped biting." Prior to muttering this phrase again, try the following tips and techniques. 1. Vertical to Horizontal. The style of one's ice jig is just as important as its color. Most anglers are accustomed to using a tear-dropped shaped jig that hangs vertically in the water, such as Jamm... more

November 2008

Our recent monster cold front last weekend brought most fishing activity to a screeching halt. Exceptions to this pre-winter wake up call are walleyes, muskies and crappies. Walleyes and muskies (and their respective kin saugers and northern pike) get most of the attention from the few who are still out there on the water. This suits retired Beloit firefighter Bobby Burnett just fine. Crappies are his favorite target. "November is a time of profound change for those big slabbers" Burnett grins "Over the next 30 days crappies will move from suspending over the middle of the water column in deep water into the shallows where you'll find them when it's time to break out the ice fishi... more
For many anglers, the 2008 open water fishing season is quickly winding down. Many folks who like to go fishing also like to hunt, and right now is about the only time they can go hunting. There are also a lot of other activities that can conflict with fishing this time of year. While the opportunity to catch lots of fish and big fish is great right now, unfortunately there aren't a lot of anglers on the water in most Midwest locations. Now is when I like to reflect on the fishing season that has just passed. It is amazing how much we can learn from every fishing season no matter how much fishing experience we have. One thing that I learned this year is that swim baits can be extreme... more
Pre-Ice Perch by Dave Duwe
With the cold November winds causing the Southeastern Wisconsin lakes to turnover, the fish will go on a fall feeding frenzy. It isn't only the game fish that bite better; panfish will also put on the feed bag. My quarry in latefall is always the yellow perch; they are fun to catch and at the same time provide tasty table fare. The perch begin to school up in late September through the winter months. The great thing about perch in fall is that they are located in some of the shallowest water that they will live in all year. A typical depth range that I have found is 6-10 ft of water. Perch prefer hard sand bottoms with scattered weeds. The fish don't seem to like the real weedy loc... more

October 2008

Autumn is a wonderful season for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities. This time of year is especially attractive to anglers. Most species of fish that are found in the Midwest are more susceptible to an angler's presentation now, but that creates a bit of a challenge also. The challenge is, what specie of fish do we go after? Walleye fishing can be outstanding on one lake or river, while the bass action can be really good somewhere else. If largemouth bass are what you decide to chase, following are some ideas on how you can increase the odds of getting a true trophy bass to bite your bait. Largemouth bass will be found in a couple of different types of areas in the autumn months. ... more
It seems hardly a day goes by this time of year when I fail to get an email asking about how to set up decoys in fields. Many hunters seem to be under the mistaken impression there's a magic spread or formation that will lure the birds. The most important consideration is to set up in a field the birds want to feed in. You locate such a field by scouting. Canada geese are more habit-oriented than snows. Find a field they're using for more than a day or two and you usually can count on their return the following morning. With snows, it's only sometimes reliable. Still, scouting is paramount. When you located such a field, be sure to obtain permission to hunt it the following morning. ... more
Rivers, both large and small, criss-cross the Midwest. Many of those rivers are full of fish in a wide variety of species. Those fish can be caught using a number of techniques, and they can be caught winter, spring, summer and fall. Here are some ideas for catching those fish right now. Most Midwest rivers are home to several species of fish, but there generally is a dominant predator specie. In many rivers that dominant specie is the walleye: In lots of other rivers smallmouth bass are more prominent. Usually though, a certain area of a river will have a dominant specie. In one stretch walleyes will be most abundant, as we move into another stretch of river, smallmouth will be more... more
October is a time of profound change in Midwestern rivers. On Mississippi River Pool 9 where I guide water temperatures were still hovering around 70 degrees at the end of September. A cold north wind blew that page off the calendar, causing water temperatures to tumble and fish to come alive. Some folks call September "Slump-tember. There is so much food in the water for fish to eat action can be slow-even with water temperatures at nearly ideal levels for predator comfort. There is little incentive for a big ol' bass to garwoofle your $6 crankbait when merely opening his mouth amounts to a pass thru a long buffet line. Anglers chasing smallmouth and largemouth bass on my neck of th... more
Rod Bending Pike Action by Patricia Strutz
One of Wisconsin's most common gamefish is the scrappy Northern Pike. This predator is easily identified by its dark background marked by light colored horizontal bars. With a voracious appetite, a northern pike makes for steady rod bending action accentuated by quick bursts of strength and speed. As a musky fishing guide, I especially enjoy encounters with pike because they keep us focused and "in the game." Fishing for hours at a time without even seeing a musky is all to often a common plight for the musky fisherman. These down periods can lead to daydreaming and missed opportunities when the elusive musky finally does show up. I welcome the chance to have my clients tie i... more
Row Trolling by Patricia Strutz
I've been a row trolling enthusiast for many years and would like to share this great technique with you all. Row trolling, at its simplest, is just "working the oars" (powering the boat by manpower not by a motor) and dragging (trolling) lures at the same time. Pretty simple stuff...and, it catches fish! I've always touted this technique as a user-friendly kind of fishing. The craft is basic (no big outboard motor to maintain, no trolling motor to operate, etc.) as is the technique. Most of my row trolling is done in the autumn for muskies, however, I know fishermen who row all season long for a variety of species. Here's a general synopsis of my gear...First of all, I own ... more

September 2008

Fishing for Cruisers by Bob Jensen
So much of the time when we're looking for fish, we're looking for them near underwater structure such as sunken islands, reefs, weedbeds, just something that they might like to hang out by and are easy for anglers to find with the aid of sonar. Other times we're looking for them near visible objects, maybe a tree or tree stump in the water, vegetation that is sticking above the water, something that we can see with our eyes. When the fish are where they're supposed to be, catching them can be simpler. It's when they're where they're not supposed to be that catching them gets a little tricky. However, finding and catching them in unusual places can be the difference between catching ... more
Just imagine a beautiful summer day, perfect temperature, where all you need is a light T-shirt, a pair of waders, wading boots, a cap, rod and reel, and an assortment of lures that match your sport's need. The sun is just coming up, the gentle breeze brushes across your face and your car is packed. It is your day with nature and all those smallies waiting in your favorite stream. Driving down the back country roads, you can smell the country air and the freshly harvested hay. Just as you pull up to your destination, that farm dog comes to meet you, tail wagging and a nudge to the hip welcoming you to this paradise of which you dream. Your gear is ready and the lure is tied to the line. ... more
As summer ends and fall begins panfish start to suspend in the main lake basin or adjacent to the deep weed lines. The easiest and most plentiful panfish to catch are the bluegill and crappie. As a rule, the bluegills will suspend in some of the deepest parts of the lake. On Delavan Lake, in SE Wisconsin, it seems that 40-42 ft of water is the magic number. The bluegills will suspend 10-15 ft down. I like to drift through the school using my trolling motor to control the speed of the drift. Due to the depth of water, anchoring is a bit challenging since you'd need to let out so much anchor rope. To present the bait, I will use Bait Rigs Willospoon tipped with wax worms or an Ar... more
The Mississippi can be described as a dark mystery wrapped up in an enigma. Sometimes fish seem to be everywhere. Sometimes they just disappear. Crappies certainly fall into this category-easy as pie under late ice, May and October but tough to find as summer morphs into fall. Bear in mind these critters are never tied up. This is especially true in a river system where dynamics of their ecosystem are in a state of constant change. By early June the silver slabs are done spawning and swim away from shallow woody structure to find food and ensure survival. Often these needs are met back in the weeds. As weed growth sees geometric increase as summer arrives in earnest, the number of places... more
You may not know it by looking out the window, but signs of summer’s departure are already starting. You may not even realize that fact by stepping outdoors. It’s still hot outside, the breezes are warm, and dew covers the grass in the morning. However, we can’t avoid the fact that another summer is slipping away. As summer makes its exit, the fish start to detect the changes in their surroundings. If we want to continue to catch fish, we need to make some changes also. Summer BassTake a look into the water, and pay close attention to the baitfish. The bluegills and bullheads that were tiny just six or eight weeks ago are noticeably bigger. There are also fewer of them. Many of the baitfi... more

August 2008

My faith in the future of America was shaken to the very core not long ago when my sister-in-law and nephew "Arthur" came to visit for the weekend. My wife's sister works long hours as a nurse trying to provide for her son. His Dad bailed out when the kid was 10 years old. Raising a boy into a man is difficult when two parents aren't in a household. When Mom has to do it all alone, development can suffer. This is the case with "Arthur" who is now 16 years old. He will finally enter high school this fall. He has at least average intelligence, but has been held back twice in school for reasons too complex and personal to discuss in this column. I thought an afternoon in the outdoors wou... more
July and August are traditionally the hottest months of the year and are a real test of the fisherman's skill. I've known and spent time on the water with a lot of fishermen and I've noticed that the really good ones are flexible, they don't hesitate to fish different places or vary their baits, lures and tactics as the conditions change. They aren't even locked into catching just bass or walleye, if one species isn't biting, they target another and have a good time. But, unfortunately, most fishermen are pretty rigid in their approaches to fishing and tend to fish the same places, with the same baits or lures and fish them in the same way throughout the year whether they are catchin... more
There are no 'sure things' on the Mississippi River in August. But rocky fingers called "wingdams" which help maintain a nine-foot navigation channel are pretty close-provided you can "read" them, of course. Be forewarned that learning to "read" wingdams will mean multiple trips to the prop shop for repairs. You'll ding or break off skegs on the motor. Maybe lose a lower unit or two. Wingdam fishing is a blatant risk/reward scenario. What reward could possibly be worth a $60 rebuild job on a propeller? How 'bout a 20-inch smallmouth or six nice walleyes in six casts or a bucket full of jumbo bluegills? Wingdams hold this potential, a chance to dance with double-digit pike, constant actio... more
Swim Bait Bass by Bob Jensen
There’s a new bait style in the Midwest that is proving itself to be an outstanding producer of largemouth bass. It’s called a swim bait. Swim baits have been a big deal for a couple of years in other parts of the country where largemouth bass are the primary and most popular gamefish. Oftentimes bass trends start in the west or south where bass are chased twelve months a year. These trends then make their way to other regions. The swim bait deal has reached the Midwest, and if recent results continue, swim baits will become a part of every bass angler’s arsenal. Although largemouth bass are probably the primary target of swim bait anglers, swim baits will also take smallmouth bass, walleyes... more
The Big Picture by Jackie Vogen
It's often said that making a difference in the life of another can be a very rewarding experience. So once again my husband and I are volunteering our time and fishing skills through a therapeutic and recreational program. This program that we're involved in is the "Learn to Fish" program. It's a ten week program that our fishing club sponsors. We assist and teach basic fishing skills to individuals of all ages that have special needs and disabilities. We give out of compassion and focus on their special needs by teaching basic fishing skills at a level that each individual can comprehend. We believe that every individual should have an opportunity to enjoy the sport of fishing and experie... more

July 2008

It would appear that summer is finally here, and most of us would say, "It’s about time". The weather so far this year has been weird. Now that we’re in the summer period of the year, we need to change our fishing a little bit. Earlier, when the fish were in a pre-spawn or spawn mode, we just looked for the areas where the fish were spawning. Walleyes were in areas that had sand or gravel bottoms, while other species of fish were in areas that were conducive to their spawning needs. Lots of fish were in concentrated areas. As we move into summer, things change. Fish really have only two things to do their entire life. They spawn and they eat. Summer is eating time. The fish will be w... more
Catfish have at least one characteristic for the feline mammal which gave them the name-when threatened a catfish will often seek refuge in a tree. Boiling currents in the Rock and other rivers push virtually all fish species to seek refuge from high and roily water. Native intelligence tells channel catfish that the downstream edge of shoreline timber will provide both refuge and easy food. Right now virtually all of the forktail's habitat needs are easily met within 5-10 feet of the shoreline, hunkering down in the slipstream a tree or similar barrier provides. Channel catfish are omnivores, eating everything from insects to annelids to ivory soap. They are aided in this process by an... more
Teach A Man To Fish by Dave Duwe
Catch a man a fish and he eats for a day, Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime. Being a fishing guide, I take everyone fishing; from pros to first timers. The most important thing about taking anyone fishing is to understand their expectations. What exactly do they want to accomplish, is it to catch a meal or is it to land their first Northern Pike. Keeping it simple is often the key to the whole trip. It doesn't make sense to hand over a baitcaster to a 5 year old, nor does it make sense to fish for walleye when the bite is finicky and the action is slow. I personally don't use nightcrawlers when I'm fishing by myself but nightcrawlers can be the best plan for a novice fi... more
The Pike Of Summer by Ted Peck
"Esox lucius" is known by many names beyond its official Latin designation. Water wolf. Gator. Snake…and several other more colorful descriptions not suitable for this newspaper. For many, northern pike are the black sheep of gamefish. Muskie hunters revile them. Bass anglers curse their tendency to eat $6 crankbaits and swim away. Panfishermen don't even want to bring them in the boat. If you can manage to land one without losing a lure northerns often initiate one of two different ploys to let you know it ain't over 'til its over. One favorite trick is to roll and flop violently in the landing net, snarling the mesh in a Gordian knot which can take considerable time to untangle. If you ... more

June 2008

As the weather continues to slowly warm, anglers should be aware of changes in the fish-world if they want to be successful in their catching. As the water warms, the underwater world changes, and those changes will influence how fish behave and how our lure presentations should be altered. Here are some ideas for catching more fish in the early summer months. So far this fishing season, the fish have mostly been in the spawning phase. They have been either getting ready to spawn, spawning, or finishing up with the spawning ritual. They haven’t been real excited about eating, but they would eat if something came by. Keep in mind that different species of fish spawn at different times. ... more
If you haven't learned the meaning of true friendship, then you need to check out Lake Link's "Old Timer's" thread. We've been called "Old Timers" and "Old Geezers", but our friendships and our sense of humor have been a major contributing defense against aging. Nonetheless, our social roles may be aging, but we're young at heart. One of my discoveries that I'd like to reinforce is that true friends can grow separately without growing apart through an internet connection. We're a close group of friends that go through life together, one day at a time. We give comfort and positive advice to each other; this type of medicine doesn't come in a bottle. We like to get together for outings and I'd... more
Thirty-five years of marriage has made me a better fishing guide, although I must admit guiding and fishing were both more fun back before the marital knot was tied and cinched down tighter than a loop in boat launch line you were foolish enough to let a client hold when backing the "office" into the lake. Catching walleyes from May until the arrival of serious summer is pretty straightforward : fish where they are feeding when Wally and Wanda are in the mood to eat. This will invariably be in the top six feet of the water column during periods of low light. Fish are cold-blooded creatures. They are wired to eat the easiest available meal available with the least amount of energy expend... more

May 2008

Bulls on the Beds by Dave Duwe
Early summer is one of my favorite times of year; the end of snow, flowers blooming and most importantly, bluegills on their beds. The bigger bluegills are in some circles called "Bulls." They are big and fight like a fish 4-5 times their size. Bluegills will spawn in mid-May through June. They prefer to spawn when the water temperature reaches 70 degrees. The best locations are had sandy bottoms associated with weeds. The bluegills will clear the bottom down to the sand in a circle before the female will lay her eggs. Once the eggs are fertilized, the male will guard the nests from predators. I fish the lakes of Southeastern Wisconsin; my favorite lake is Delavan Lake an hour sou... more
"What's the big deal…you catch lots of bass?" my wife snorted as she witnessed a victory dance accompanied by multiple howls and war whoops. No point in explaining to someone torn from the deep metaphysical truths in the latest issue of Oprah that a 23 1/2 inch, pre-spawn smallmouth bass is a really nice fish… or angst upon discovering the camera was at home and not in the boat. What do you do with a fish like that? Release her of course… after confirming the length and 16 1/4 inch girth twice. Water temperature was only in the low 60's along those sun-drenched rocks on that May afternoon three years ago. The bruiser bronzeback was probably the 15th or 16th smallie released along t... more
I never enjoy the wait from late October to early May to get back on the water for smallmouth bass. The way this past winter began, and continued, I knew the six months was going to feel even longer. With this in mind, I thought I'd try to coordinate some smallie fishing at the end of March during a business trip to Washington, D.C. The other Web site that I write for is www.riversmallies.com, which is a site dedicated to those of us who love catching river smallies. Many enthusiasts on this site fish rivers along the eastern seaboard. I put the word out that I was thinking about giving the Potomac a try and happily had a number of offers to get me on the water. Dave Menton is a reg... more
Safe Boating by Jackie Vogen
My husband and I purchased our first boat approximately three years ago. At that time, boating was new to me, so my immediate goal was to gain a better understanding of boating. As a novice, my objective was to learn to properly operate a boat and become an informed recreational boater through educational boating courses. I wanted to maximize my awareness of boat safety and become a responsible boater. My husband and I were going to spend many pleasurable hours out on the water fishing together; therefore, I wanted to learn how to handle any situation that would arise in the event of an emergency. There should always be at least one passenger on board that can safely operate the boat in case... more

April 2008

Everybody is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. This month it seems like all who sported shamrocks, sipped green beer and danced a jig have tied a jig on a spinning rod and morphed into walleye anglers…an every one of them arrived at the boat launch down at the river 10 minutes before you did. A number of them have forgotten how to back boat trailers, check for drain plugs or ensure there is fresh gas in the tank before blocking the launch…delaying your overwhelming need to wash jigs and drown minnows for a few more agonizing minutes. There are two ways to deal with this reality. You can allow anger and frustration to cancel out one of the primary reasons you like to fish… or you can bide your... more
Fishing With Children by Jackie Vogen
Winter is now behind us, spring has finally sprung, and fishermen are making plans to hit the water to do some fishing. While making plans, here's something to think about. Have you given any thought about setting one day aside to introduce a child to the sport of fishing? For those of you who don't have children or grandchildren, I'm sure you can find a young relative or even a child in your neighborhood to take. The benefits and memories that are created are very rewarding for all. Not only are you starting a family tradition that will be handed down from one generation to the next, but this is an opportune time to spend quality time with a child. There are several things to keep in mind w... more
Some Midwest anglers are already on the water, others are still on the ice. For most of us though, our first open water fishing trip is still a couple of weeks off. There is a thought that ice-out might be later than usual in some areas, so some of us could still be a month away from that first open water trip. However, when the opportunity to go fishing gets here, we want to be ready. Here are some things you can do to help get ready for your first open water fishing trip of the year. First and probably most important, make sure you’ve got good line on your reels. You should start every season with new line. Remember, your line is the only link between you and the fish, and you want that... more
The Run is On! by Dave Duwe
With the game fish season closed until the first weekend of May, some of the best walleye fishing of the year can be had in most of the major river systems. Walleyes are pulling out of the lakes and impoundments to the spawning flats in the rivers. It is called the "Walleye Run" and it is on! April is one of the best months to catch the active fish. I like the Fox River in DePere, WI and Oshkosh, WI the Wisconsin River in the Wisconsin Dells, and the Rock River in Fort Atkinson, WI. The Fox River in DePere has by far the biggest fish potential. Every spring there are many 10 lb plus fish that are caught there. The Wisconsin River has a lot of good "eating" sized Walleyes and Sa... more

March 2008

Late Ice Panfish by Bob Jensen
In some states throughout the Midwest, the ice-fishing season for walleyes and northern pike is coming to a close, or has, in fact, already closed. If you live in one of those areas, now is not the time to hang up the ice-rods and put the shelter and auger in storage. There are still some very good opportunities for ice-fishing action. Some of the best perch, crappie, and bluegill ice action is still to come. Here's how you can get in on it. Perch can be in different places in different bodies of water, but most of my perch catching late in the season has been in deep water, sometimes down to thirty feet. In other lakes they'll be shallower, but when they're shallow, that's usually bec... more
Walleyes are moving seriously into the spawning mode across Wisconsin and I haven't thrown a minnow at 'em yet. The reason stems from a convoluted mixture of logic and philosophy, which so far has revealed truly promising results. This self-imposed livebait ban is centered around theories and conventional wisdom in regard to walleyes which was thrown into cyberspace on the www.in-depthangling.com website recently seeking input from the walleye angling fraternity. In five days this query generated 726 hits and 25 replies with those responding running the gamut from giving up on artificials and going back to minnows to taking a scoop of minnows along "just in case" to "haven't used minno... more
What brought me to Lake-Link was the "Women and Fishing" area; however, while surfing one day, I discovered another topic that also piqued my interest. With one click of the mouse it led me to the "Old Timer's" thread. Here, I met my new friend, JayLane. He told me this thread started up a few years ago, and it was founded on the basis of having a place where a group of people of any age could meet, share life stories, ideas, and joke around. I have to tell you that I've met some of the finest, down to earth people on this thread. The daily interaction amongst friends is what helps many find comfort when confronted with life's trials and tribulations. At times our own light goes out and is r... more

February 2008

The Bible lesson found in Matthew 14 is having great impact on my fishing efforts this winter. You may recall Peter saw Jesus walking on the water and headed his way, perhaps to find out where the fish were biting. Suddenly he realized that most fishermen can only get away with walking on the water by faith…or in February in the upper Midwest. At least most years…on most waters. This winter has been a study in contrast. Remember the end of January when ambient air temperatures dropped almost 50 degrees in a 24 hour period ? Now that is a monster cold front! Human activity shut down more than fish activity after the front howled thru on Jan. 29. Air temperature may have plummeted, b... more
Hold’Em High by Bob Jensen
Whether you’re talking about open water fishing or ice-fishing, one concept remains constant: You’ve got to put your lure near the fish if you want to catch it. That sounds basic, but especially when ice-fishing, where your lure is in relation to the fish is very, very important. In fact, the position of your lure will sometimes determine if you catch a few fish or no fish. This fact was made very clear on an ice-fishing trip late last winter. Ice CrappieWe were on Upper Red Lake in northern Minnesota and crappies were the quarry. Whenever you’re on the ice, a sonar is a necessity if you want to consistently catch fish. We were using MarCum LX-5 depth-finders. These are outstanding sona... more
Post Football Pike by Dave Duwe
As football season comes to a conclusion with the big game. It's time to turn your attention to ice fishing. Being the father of a young son, the easiest kind of fishing for a 5 year old is tip up fishing. Living and fishing in Southeastern Wisconsin, the most consistent tip up bite is for Northern Pike. I choose to fish lakes with a large pike population, like Lake Como, Lake Geneva or Delavan Lake. These lakes are all located in Walworth County Wisconsin. The constant for all three lakes is the weedy bays. For Geneva and Delavan, I will work the weed edge in 8-15 ft of water, Como being a very shallow lake the best depth is 5-6 ft of water. On Delavan Lake, I fish near Township ... more
Plain and simple: nothing beats a bucket full of spring caught Perch from the Great Lakes! Over the past several years we have been seeing some great catches of Yellow Perch. Here are some methods, areas, and some little tricks to catching a "tasty" meal! The Spawn Ice-out starts triggering perch to spawning areas. When water temps reach in the mid 40's, the spawn begins and Perch begin to deposit their eggs on vegetation, brush or sand/gravel bottoms. Perch do not build beds. Generally, the spawn occurs during night-time hours, and depending on its size, Perch will deposit between 4,000 to 40,000 eggs. Water depths for spawning varies from 3 to 10 feet. Spawning areas are residual ... more
I've often said, "The fish are just a bonus". Now let me explain how I've come to this conclusion. When you think about all the fishermen that you've met through the years, and then think about the friendships that have developed through fishing, you'll have a better appreciation as to why I think this way. My guess would be that you've made many friends through fishing, as fishing and friendships go hand in hand. Yes, there's more to fishing than just catching fish; friendships count, too. Personally, I've made many friends through fishing related activities. And, the friendships that I've developed along the way have had more of a lasting impact than the fish I've caught. Fishing is my... more

January 2008

During the summer of 2006, I noticed an interesting fishing report about a river in Wisconsin by a guy with the handle, Fishinmusician. I hadn't heard of this river in my home state, where I thought I knew all the good smallie rivers. So, I messaged Fishinmusician to find out more about this river on which he and a buddy had such a great day. He got back to me with an expanded report. I was curious about his handle and asked him about it. He told me he and his buddy were members of a country band. Fishinmusician is Tom Bentley, who is the keyboard player for Joe Nichols. His buddy is bass player Brad Albin. Tom and I had a number of conversations and e-mails related to river sma... more
I've fished all season, moving from one hot spot to the next, in search of the elusive fish. And, just when I thought I was done for the year, I find myself gearing up for 2008. My boat has been winterized and put into storage, but my thoughts are continuing on how to make this upcoming season more efficient and enjoyable. And this is what I'm planning to do… While fishing in my boat last year, I surveyed my deck space and came up with some ideas on how to better utilize my space. Instead of having rods lying around, I purchased some additional rod holders. Then I wanted to organize all my fishing tools, so I bought some tool holders. Now, when I need a tool quick, I won't have to look ... more
The cold northwest wind that blew through recently signaled the end of another fishing season for most folks. There will still be some trips to the river to catch walleyes, and ice-fishing will kick in pretty soon, but for now, most fishing is taking a break. This is the time of year when I like to look back to figure out what I learned this fishing season. Swimming a jig is a great technique for a wide variety of fish. For so long, so many anglers thought that the only way to fish a jig was to crawl or hop it along the bottom. While crawling or hopping a jig is effective for sure, swimming a jig can also be very effective. You can swim a jig for largemouth or smallmouth bass, walley... more

December 2007

Legend has it that Muskies are a fish of 10,000 casts. I kept playing this thought in my mind as I prepared for my upcoming Musky trip to Webster Lake, Indiana. As an inexperienced Musky fisherman, I managed to read a few articles about these toothy critters and realized that capturing a Musky is a task that only a few will accomplish. Despite the fact that my chances would be slim, I kept an open mind as my husband and I left for our four day Musky trip. Little did I know at this point in time, the journey would have more significance than the destination; as the action was in the journey and it was quite an intense challenge for me. I've read that the best time to fish for Muskies is... more
As ice-fishing season gets closer, we need to start thinking about getting ready for that first ice bite. Many of the most accomplished ice-anglers view first ice as being the best time to be out there. While first ice can be good, there are many very good fishing opportunities throughout the ice-fishing season. However, no matter how good the fishing is, you need to have line that is going to stand up to the tests that ice-fishing can provide. Your line must be strong enough to handle the fish that bite, but it’s also important that your line doesn’t spook the fish. Finally, the line you use for ice-fishing must be manageable. Here are some ideas for selecting a line for ice-fishing. I... more

November 2007

Smallmouth bass can be found almost anywhere in the Midwest, and this is the time of year when they can be very active in rivers. You will need to change your approach a little bit, and you’ll also need to realize that they will be grouped tighter than they are during the warmer weather months. In the fall months, you might fish several spots and catch nothing. Then you’ll find the area where they want to be and the action will be almost non-stop. Non-stop smallmouth action is about as good as it gets. Keep the following ideas in mind and you’ll be able to get in on this action. From now until next spring, smallmouth will group in deeper water areas in rivers. Sometimes they’ll be in deep... more
Musky Hunting by Dave Duwe
As the end of the open water season approaches, it's time for one more trip to catch a trophy musky. In the late fall I prefer the one-two punch of a jig and a sucker fished on a quick strike rig. To start a trophy hunt one of the most important, if not the most important part, is selecting a lake that has a bunch of fish. I prefer deep lakes with points associated with weed flats. My favorite lakes in Wisconsin are Pewaukee and Okauchee lakes in Southeastern Wisconsin. I also have taken a late October trip to Bone Lake in Northwestern Wisconsin every year for the last 15. All three of these lakes have another benefit since you are able to motor troll. This makes sucker fishing muc... more
When I joined a fishing club in July of 2006, I didn't know what to expect; however, I can say that I've found more than I had anticipated. People join fishing clubs for several different reasons and the format of each club is different. I joined to be around people that were passionate about fishing and who shared a common interest. As a novice, I was looking to gain fishing knowledge. I had thought about joining a fishing club for awhile and it took some time to find the right club. My first attempt at joining a club was a little disappointing; however, my disappointment was short lived when I found the club that I belong to now. This club not only accepted me, but openly welcomed me. I'l... more

October 2007

Cool Water Crappies by Dave Duwe
October is Crappie time. As the days get shorter and the nights are cool it signals the time that black Crappies once again start to school. And they are hungry, very hungry. Other than the spring spawn this is the best time of year to catch a bunch of fat and feisty crappies. On the lakes I fish most, like Delavan Lake or Lake Geneva in Walworth County, WI, the fish will suspend over open water. For lakes in the northern parts of the state they move to the heavy wood. The controlling factor is the depth of the lake. The deeper the body of water the more the tendency is for the fish to suspend over open water. They are feeding on the ample fall minnows, switching to the zoo plank... more
As a child growing up, I never went fishing; now at age 50, I'm trying to make up for lost time. I've only been fishing for 2 ½ years and I'm trying to learn all game species. It has been an "intense learning phase" for me because I have a strong desire to learn; however, I'm enjoying every moment. The courage of working for something that you believe in, day in and day out, can be difficult, but holds the greatest rewards. My approach is to learn everything that I possibly can about fishing and then take what I've learned out on the lake and apply it. The best advice and learning tool that I've ever received was from a guide, while out on the lake fishing. To this day I've never forgot ... more
The October Bite by Mike Mladenik
The only problem I have in October is deciding what to fish for. Whether you are after a 40 pound musky, a 12-pound walleye or six pound smallmouth, the time is right in October. Sure there are those diehard fishermen who only chase after on specie. However, there are many like myself who prefer to fish for all species. This means taking advantage of every minute and spending your time wisely. This is no time to check out new water. Fisherman will do best by fishing water they know is productive and has produced trophy fish in the past. Each year fisherman put in their time in hopes of landing a trophy musky in the fall. Pick a lake or flowage with a quality musky fishery that has produce... more
Trailering Ideas by Bob Jensen
This is the time of year when it’s good to check on something that many anglers don’t think about checking on. That would be your boat trailer. So many of us just hook the trailer up and head for the lake, and much of the time that works out fine. But if you experience just one trailer problem that could have been averted, it’s worth the time to do so. Here are some things you should check before your next fishing trip. Check the air in the tires. A properly inflated tire will be safer and add to the life of the tire. A properly inflated tire will also provide better gas mileage, and we need to do all we can to save gas. It helps our pocketbook, but it also helps us to be more energy-inde... more

September 2007

As summer winds down and Wisconsinites think of Green Bay, they are usually referring to the Packers. True Fishermen however, think trolling the bay for Walleyes. Every fall the walleyes again make their migration south from their northern haunts to areas by the mouth of the Fox River. Locations such as Geanos reef, 2 mile reef and the shipping canal. A recent fishing trip to the Bay with PWT Pro Brad Davis, of team Skeeter/Yamaha, was a very educational trip on how to use a nightcrawler harness properly. It was an attempt to catch some of the resident walleye population in the lower Bay. The recent "hot" weather, from all reports had slowed the bite from the peak in late June and e... more
Fall Bass by Mike Mladenik
One over looked period to catch largemouth bass consistently is the early fall period. Many bass anglers do well on lakes and flowages in spring and summer but they fail to key in on the major bass movements that are about to occur once. These bass movements on many natural lakes and reservoirs can be dramatic and offer excellent fishing. Many bass anglers love to fish the slop and shallow weeds in summer. By early September fishing the slop in the back bays is no longer a predictable pattern. While there may be a few stragglers in the slop, the bulk of the bass have moved. What happens in the early fall is that the weeds start to die off and there is a major migration of baitfish into ... more
Fishing for Cats by Nancy Schraufnagel
I love to fish. I don't get the opportunity as much as I would like, but when I do, LOOK OUT Cats. A while ago , my hubby (Perch) and myself decided to take a day and go fishing. Well, we headed to Water works Park Beaver Dam and launched the boat and headed to Denning's Point, better known to me as Rasmussen Point. We are getting all set up and this time I am going to use Minnows, yes, good old minnows. Before long my lines are in and I am having the time of my life. The fight these cats give is just totally awesome. I had two lines just a moving. Well, those two lines gave me some very nice cats. At this point Perch is... more
“Get ready for fall fishing”. That sounds kind of premature, but now is a good time to get ready to get after the really big fish, and the really big fish bite in the fall. So do the small and medium-sized fish. Everything bites in the fall, and the other benefits of fall fishing are pretty hard to overlook also. The weather can be beautiful, colors on trees are vivid, and often you’ll have the lake to yourself. Here are some things you can do to make sure you’re ready when fall fishing arrives. Fall BassMake sure you have fresh line on your reels. You don’t need to go stronger; you just need to make sure it’s fresh. If you’ve fished all summer without changing line, you need to re-spoo... more
Fishing with your family and friends is a great way to spend quality time while making memories. Have you ever given any thought to taking an extra step and donating your time and fishing skills to individuals with disabilities or special needs? I have found the secret to life is not only doing what you love to do, but to open your heart and make a difference by giving back to your community through volunteering. Why not introduce individuals of all ages to the world of fishing and make a memorable opportunity that they may not otherwise have had. I belong to a fishing club and one way that our club members promote the sport of fishing is through a "Learn to Fish" program. This therapeutic... more

August 2007

The idea of courtesy at the boat ramp is something that should be thought of early in the season, but in reality, anytime is a good time to think about getting your boat in and out of the water quickly but safely. There is no need or reason why a ramp should be tied up by a boater loading or unloading for more than a couple of minutes maximum. On a recent weekend at a popular Midwest lake that I was visiting, it was late in the afternoon and a storm was quickly approaching. We headed back to our take-out point, a three-wide ramp. We arrived in plenty of time to beat the storm, but two of the ramps were tied up for ten minutes apiece by boaters who were loading their boats. If the storm w... more
Here in the Midwest, we’re right in the middle of the dog-days of summer, and we’ve got at least a month of the dog-days left. A very basic definition of the dog-days is the period of time during the hottest part of the summer. Anglers often describe the dog-days as the toughest time of the year to catch fish. Although fish can get a little more difficult to catch, they’ll still eat. In fact, if you keep a few ideas in mind, you can catch plenty of fish during the dog-days. Following are some of those ideas. Summer BassOften the best bite will occur early and late in the day before the sun gets to its peak. Fishing is often more comfortable at this time of day as well. The fish will... more
When the hot summer days entrench southeastern Wisconsin, I switch to my favorite presentation: the Lindy rig. The Lindy rig is otherwise known as "rigging". This method is one of the most effective ways to present live bait in deep water. Similar to buying a home, the key is location, location, location. All break lines are not created equal. In the dog days of summer I look for hard bottom associated with weeds. Some of these spots can be as small as 10 ft. by 10 ft. These prime locations will school the largemouth bass and the walleyes. I have several key areas where I fish that you can literally catch one fish right after the other. The rig is a simple one; a 1/16 oz or... more
Late Summer Tactics by Mike Mladenik
By August most waters reach the maximum water temperature and water usage by watercraft enthusiasts is also at its peak. Fish are feeding on a regular basis but you would never know it by listing to anglers. The "Dog Days of Summer" Syndrome takes the blame for many an empty live well. The key is to find a place where fish are active and you can escape some of the boat traffic. Fishing a river in late summer will give you the best of both worlds. Smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike and perch are all active during the late summer period. While all species may be active it is the smallmouth fishing that takes center stage. Besides the numbers big fish are also common. These river fish h... more
Fishing alone sometimes offers opportunities that don't present themselves while you're fishing with your friends. Now don't get me wrong, fishing is definitely better when shared with a friend, but sometimes silence is golden. Yesterday I fished with one of my friends and today I fished alone. Every now and then we need some quiet, quality time to ourselves to reflect. Let me explain why fishing alone today, is a prime example of a golden moment. Envision this, if you will, and you'll get a better understanding that is presenting itself to me today. I decided to go fishing on a smaller lake that didn't allow me to bring my boat; therefore, I rented a John boat with oars and no trolling... more

July 2007

This year, during the 2007 spring turkey season, we tried to get tags for the first weekend of the hunting season. I guess the demand for the zone we applied for was too high and my husband, Mike, and I were not one of the lucky ones to receive tags. In a way it was a blessing in disguise as some of you may know that we had cold, windy and snowy weather that weekend, with some places getting 7-8 inches of snow. For a short time I thought that this year we were going to miss the spring hunt. Luckily the DNR now sells the tags that were not filled once the initial tags were drawn. Barefoot, a fellow Lake Linker, knew how much I wanted to go turkey hunting and told me that he would... more
It was a pleasant July morning when I first boarded Mike Veine's 20' Lund Baron in search of Saginaw Bay walleye. Along with my fishing buddy, we had made the six hour drive the evening before from Chicago to Au Gres, Michigan to test the waters of Saginaw Bay. We had heard much about this famed summer walleye fishery and were about to experience just how hot the action can be. Instead of wasting countless trips to this huge body of water in an attempt to locate key walleye locations and then put together successful patterns to catch the fish on our own, we elected to take a short cut. By enlisting the services of one of Saginaw Bay's premier fishing guides, our goal was to lear... more
Summer Fishing Ideas by Bob Jensen
We’re just starting to get into the summer months, so now is a good time to think about a few ideas that will help us catch more fish throughout the summer. In the summer, fish do one thing: They eat. In the spring, spawning is their priority. After the spawn and a recovery period of a few days, the fish will be wherever the food is. If they’re eating perch, they’ll be where the perch are. If crawdads are on the menu, the fish will be looking for a meal near rocks or wherever crawdads are. If you want to catch fish in the summer, look for their food. More and more, anglers are relying on their sonar to show them where the fish are. In the past, sonar was used to find structure. Modern ... more

June 2007

Deepwater Bluegills by Dave Duwe
Maybe some of you can relate to this childhood memory. My dad and I always went fishing for bluegills in the spring in the shallow bays. We had a great time. As summer grew, we continued to fish those shallow bays and I always wondered what happened to the fish. The big bluegills became 3-4 inches by the middle of summer and we just thought the big fish weren't biting. I guess we weren't too good at figuring things out in those days, we just didn't know how much we didn't know! Hopefully this article will help break the cycle of those childhood memories of dads and their lads not catching any big bluegills in the summer. The simple answer for catching the quality fish is "Go Deep" ... more
Early Season Walleyes by Bob Jensen
As the waters warm, walleyes change the way they do things. Earlier in the year, they were in the shallows spawning. Now that the spawn is complete, the walleyes will maybe stay in the shallows, or they might move into deeper water. Where they are depends on where their food is. In the spring walleyes will be in shallow water spawning. The rest of the year, they will be wherever their food is. If you want to catch walleyes, or any specie of fish, you need to put your bait where the fish are. Many anglers like to cover water in their search for walleyes. Walleyes might be on flats or reefs, or they might be suspended. A great way to cover water is by trolling spinner rigs. Here’s how to do... more
Hunting is my Passion by Nancy Schraufnagel
From the time I was a little girl, I always wanted to be a hunter. My Dad and my brother Ron (who aren’t with me today) were very active hunters. I always wanted to go with them, but Dad said, that is no place for a little girl to be, so I always had to stay home. I was always proud, when they would come home, with 2 or more deer tied to the truck. My Dad would say, (that was a successful hunt. Meat on the table, and no one got hurt. So, now starts another time for me. In 1985, when I met Carl(Perch) he was a very avid hunter and that was always my passion. Carl and I and a few of our kids ended up taking a Hunter Safety course. That was the best thing for me and I really enjoyed it and ... more
Spring weather not only brings good fishing, but as it approaches I have to fight the urge to hit the lake. As a woman, and like many women, we have to balance our work and family and manage multiple roles. Being a mom and a wife can be challenging but rewarding. When our children are young we have to perform a juggling act between our busy and hectic days and often find less time to do something for ourselves, but we come to accept this lifestyle and we work at a faster pace and become more efficient. As a mother of two daughters, I've always put my children first and I've taken the backseat, but I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. My biggest investment that I've ever made has be... more
---> Some of my earliest memories were of going camping with my family - all eight of us - for a week once a year. Those weeks were great, but I seem to remember that they involved a ton of work for my mother and, what seemed to a young girl, an endless string of chores. Due to divorce, I became a single mom of two young children. At that time, I decided I didn't want them to miss the times that were the most special to me as I grew up simply because I was on my own. When the kids were three and five, I bought a small (and cheap) tent; three sleeping bags and we started the camping experiences together to build our own family memories. I have since added a husband who has shared... more
Topwater Smallmouth by Mike Mladenik
I have yet to meet an angler who does not like to catch smallmouth bass on topwater. Not only is experiencing an 18 inch smallmouth crushing a topwater bait exciting, but it is also addicting. After catching a few fish on top, many of my clients continue to fish the topwater bait, even if no other smallmouth shows any interest. The problem is that many anglers fail to put together all the pieces of the puzzle and likewise have only limited topwater success. From June through early September, I can usually be found on the Menominee River, in pursuit of big smallmouth with my favorite topwater bait. Summer fishing on inland lakes and reservoirs can be unpredictable, although I do occa... more

May 2007

Cold Water Big Smallmouth by Mike Mladenik
Over my 25 years of guiding, I have kept records of every day spent on the water. These records include the number and size of the fish caught, as well as the time of year and conditions. Having logged thousands of big smallmouth, one outstanding feature is noticeable. About seventy-five percent of the big smallmouth were caught in cold water. By cold water, I am referring to water temperatures less than 60 degrees. This takes in the pre-spawn period in the spring and the fall pattern. The key to catching big smallmouth consistently is understanding where and how these big fish move in cold water. Once you understand seasonal movements and how to use the right presentation, you... more
We all know that in order to fish there are no height requirements or a need to be strong and physically fit. Some fishing skills, that many woman already posses, are patience, finesse and agility. Traditionally fishing was "A mans sport". Fishing was something that men would learn from their fathers and grandfathers. It was something that the men would go out and do not even just to fish but to hang out with the other guys. Fishing was a way for the man of the house to bring home dinner while women typically stayed home to take care of the children and the housekeeping. There are more and more women now that are not only learning how to fish but also enjoying the sport of fishing. ... more
Fishing for smallmouth bass is my passion. I love chasing smallies on lakes, but enjoy the river experience even more. I've spent hundreds of hours wading smaller rivers from Southeast Wisconsin to the Southwest corner of the state. In recent years, I've done some productive exploring on the Wisconsin, Menominee, Oconto and St. Croix rivers by boat. In this article, I'm going to tell you what my four favorite lures are to catch river bronzebacks and how I use them. Rebel Teeny Wee-Crawfish Since I caught my very first river smallie on the Wisconsin River in August of 1995 on Rebel's Teeny Wee-Crawfish, this little fish catching magnet has been my constant companion on every one of ... more
In Northern Illinois come spring time there are many lakes that open up, but on April 1st the lake that comes to mind for me is Hidden Lakes Fee Fishing Resort. Hidden Lakes is located on Rt. #53 and Coal City Road hidden between Wilmington and Braidwood, Illinois. Many people get out on the larger lakes, but Hidden Lakes is composed of two smaller lakes that are accessible for the everyday bank fisherman. In 2007 Hidden Lakes opened their gates for the third year with new owners, Mike and Laura Savage. Although Mike and Laura have been the owners since 2005, Mike is not new to the lake; he sort of grew up here when his Uncle, John Savage, originally opened the lakes to the public in 1961 an... more
Walworth County in Southeastern Wisconsin is blessed with many great fishing lakes. The county has one of the deepest lakes in the state in Lake Geneva and one of the busiest lakes in the state in Delavan Lake. Lake Geneva is the biggest and deepest lake in Walworth County. Being the deepest lake it does have its disadvantages, especially in early May. The water is still really cold and the fish are not very active. Most of the smallmouth bass are being caught suspended, not associating with any structure. They are however, actively chasing baitfish pods near the spawning flats. My preferred presentations are Rapalas, Husky Jerks, and Kalins Grubs in avocado color fished on a darte... more

April 2007

April Walleye by Mike Mladenik
The entire Menominee Rivers offers excellent opportunities for walleye anglers. On the river there is a one fish bag limit until the first Saturday in May when the regular fishing season opens. Even with this one fish bag limit it is still worth your time spending a day on the river. March and April are prime time to catch big pre-spawn walleye and action with smaller males. If you need to take home a fish, you can take one home as long as it is over the 15-inch mark. Many anglers choose to fish in Marinette-Menominee where the Menominee Rivers enters the bay of Green Bay. While there is an excellent fishery present and big fish are caught on a daily basis, I prefer to fish the upper r... more
Timing is everything and all things taken into consideration, my husband and I were prepared to take "the plunge" and purchase our first ever boat. I truly believe we not only made a good investment in the purchase of our new Crestliner boat, but also an investment that was going to provide us with many years of enjoyment. Keep in mind, Kenny is not only my husband, but he's my best friend too; after 31 years of marriage we still enjoy spending time together and fishing together. So, it wasn't difficult to come up with a name for our boat. Kenny named our boat 'BOUT TIME, as it was 'bout time we bought a boat and 'bout time we spent time together doing something we both enjoyed doing, fi... more
Jig Like A Pro by Dave Duwe
Let's get jiggy with it!! Springtime has finally come. Now is the time to get the boat out and catch the spawning river walleyes. Jig fishing has always been my favorite presentation and the most effective. Last spring I was invited to go jig fishing with Team Skeeter/Yamaha Pro Brad Davis of Jackson, WI. The April day was cold with strong east winds. We were fishing in Oshkosh, WI on the Fox River. The Fox River is part of the Lake Winnebago system, which is full of hungry walleyes of varying size. With such an abundant population there is no size limit. On this trip, we were targeting the post-spawn fish returning from their spawning marshes far to the north in New London ... more
Sometimes anglers who fish in both open water and through the ice can learn from those seemingly opposite experiences. That point was made crystal-clear to me on my most recent ice-fishing trip a couple of weeks ago. Here’s what I mean. First, you can’t catch the fish if they’re not there. When you’re ice-fishing, if you’re using a sonar unit, you can tell if the fish are there: You can see them on the sonar. Usually, if you don’t see something down there within a few minutes, it’s time to move. Ice EyeSame’s true for open water fishing. If you’re not fishing where the fish are, you might as well keep moving until you find the fish. Humminbird has developed a tremendous line of sonar u... more
The snow is starting to melt from the warm sun which is starting to set later in the day. Even though the lakes are still frozen you know the rivers will be opening up soon. The anticipation every year to get out and fish for some early season walleyes is always high. Getting out the boat and grabbing my favorite rods is always a high point of the year. What to do to prepare for that day before it gets here will greatly improve your success. Boat Checklist Make sure your boat is ready to go well before you even think about putting it in the water. During the cold winter months make sure the general maintenance is done and everything is in good working order. Make sure to change... more
Springtime Bass Fishing by Patricia Strutz
Springtime bass angling is the perfect way to turn new anglers or your kids on to fishing. You will all enjoy their terrific fighting tendencies and the sheer number of bass that are available in the spring adds up to great fun. I believe our Northwoods bass fishery is one of our best kept secrets. Growth rates here are average to above average. In many regards our smallmouth fishery is virtually untapped. Everybody knows the Northwoods for walleye and musky fishing but our bass have exploded in many lakes. Many feel that our bass fishing rivals Chequamegon Bay or Green Bay for quality smallmouth. In the Northern Zone bass season opens on May 5th. To protect the large spawners f... more
Want to put some tasty walleyes on your dinner table? Vilas county guides share some insights with us… In early spring you have a great shot fishing for walleyes because they are so accessible. If there is late ice out the fish stay very shallow for two to three weeks after the spawning process. They may still be in only 3-4' of water. The best time to fish in early spring is either during the very warmest part of the day or at night. During the daylight hours the warming water temperatures make the fish very active, however, we also do well at night because the entire fish population is instinctively in a very narrow band of water. Even if they are not biting there will be a fai... more
My husband is an avid fisherman - and I don't use the term "avid" lightly. Even when he's asleep he dreams about fishing and wakes up in the morning looking for a pen and paper to write down the ideas that come into his mind during the night; new ways to rig and jig. His nickname here on Lake-Link is "niC" (short for newinCudahy), but we've affectionately re-nicknamed him "niC-gyver", because of all the fishing inventions he's come up with over the years. I enjoy fishing, too. I fished with my father when I was a young girl. We often went camping throughout Wisconsin and Iowa near the Mississippi river and various lakes. I've always enjoyed the outdoors but, as I grew into adulthood, thos... more

March 2007

Early Season Pike by Mike Mladenik
Northern Pike do have a reputation of cooperating when other fish have lock jaw. Although they do tend to be easier to catch at times than walleye or bass fishing is seldom easy. The problem is that most pike anglers get into a rut and use the same presentations. Pike like other species relate to weather changes and seasoned anglers can adapt to these changes. Over the years I have developed finesse presentation for largemouth and smallmouth bass. The same techniques that will catch big bass under the most adverse conditions also work for pike. When it comes to pike fishing few anglers even consider finesse presentations thinking smaller baits will only catch small pike. With the uns... more
We had taken a family trip to the Black Bear Lodge in St. Germain in February of 2007. Taking a look at the weather before we head out we see that there was a chance that we would have to deal with a snow storm, but we had a list of things that we would like to attempt to do while on our family weekend getaway. First on our list was to ice fish, of course, and the second was to try geocaching. For a couple of years we have talked about attempting to find geocache treasures and maybe this would be a good time to give it a try. I searched on the internet for any geocache information and found that there are quite a few treasures to be found in the St Germain area. So I took all the inform... more
Over 400 fishermen and ice fishing enthusiasts gathered for the 8th Annual Ice Fishing Jamboree on February 3rd, at Lake Lawn Resort in Delevan, Wisconsin. Making the trip up north from Illinois, I arrived late in the day and wasn't able to register in time to fish in the event; however, I might add that this was a blessing in disguise. The adverse weather conditions were an enemy to many of the winter anglers and despite the frigid temperatures and unforgiving winds, there were still many diehard fishermen that braved the elements. It was difficult to view all the ice shanties that were scattered across Lake Delevan because of the near blizzard like conditions, but there were many to be fo... more
Memories by Alice Williamson
One of the things I strongly believe in is creating as many memories as possible throughout my life, especially with my children. I am sure that most of us have memories of someone close to you that showed you how to fish or hunt. I have many memories of my Grandfather, one of the greatest men I have ever known, taking me fishing when I was a little girl. He is the one that helped me fall in love with fishing and the outdoors. My parents were not the type to enjoy any kind of outdoor sports, such as hunting, fishing or camping, so it was up to my Grandfather to show me how to love and respect the outdoors. When I was a little girl, my parents were both working and my mothe... more
As you sit in your comfortable heated ice shack slamming the bluegills and crappies through the ice, don't forget that in a month or two it will be time to hit the water. It takes a lot of preparation to get ready again for the open water, specifically the walleye run on the rivers. Ice fishing is a lot of fun and puts fish in my freezer every year. There isn't much that is more anticipated annually than the river walleye runs. It is time to start organizing your equipment and doing any maintenance that will be necessary to have everything working in top form for the run. Start with you fishing rods and reels. Check your rods for any broken eyes or damaged eyes or reel seats. Repl... more
Sometimes when ice-fishing, the fish really want to bite. That's when an angler can get by with presentations that aren't real precise. At other times, the fish want a bait a certain way. If it isn't presented just so, they're not going to hit. You can tell how finicky they are by watching your sonar. If they come in and eat the bait, they're aggressive. If you can see them come in on the sonar screen, and they're moving slowly, but they still eat, they're kind of in between aggressive and finicky. Finicky PerchWhen you see them come in and look at your bait, but not take it, they're being finicky. That doesn't mean they won't eat, it just means you have to present the lure in the w... more
We all have made mistakes when it comes to hunting, where you say to yourself “I should have been here." or “If I would have known." Well I am going to share a little turkey hunting story with you. My husband probably will not like it too much, but it did actually teach me a lesson that I will never forget. A few years ago for Christmas I had gotten my husband a GPS as a gift. He had been asking for a one for a couple of years and I finally broke down and got him one. He would take that thing everywhere and never leave the house without it, even if we were just going to the store or even the neighbor’s house. (I will say that it was pretty cool to have when we were on a ... more

February 2007

Ice Fishing by Barb Carey
I was raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a place where the deer out number the people by 4 to 1. I have always enjoyed the outdoors and fishing has been a pastime of mine as long as I can remember. In my younger days, I spent many summer days floating around in a 12 foot aluminum boat waiting for the big one to appear from the deep blue. In the winter we would trek out onto the frozen lake. The lake was surrounded by pine trees and the white snow went undisturbed. I was always so excited to be the one to mark the snow with our footprints as we walked to our favorite spot and put up the Tepee my father had made for these events. The older I got the busier I became and it seemed a... more
January and February is the time of year when many fishermen will be attending numerous Outdoor Sport Shows. This "one stop shopping event" is where many anglers will gather and spend the entire day buying fishing tackle. In preparation for the big event, I've not only made my shopping list and checked it twice, but I've also done my homework. Successful fishing requires knowledge of various types of fishing tackle and having the right tackle for the area and species that we want to encounter. I have confidence that the right lure will be found somewhere today at the show. My husband and I arrive early with our shopping list in our hands. As we're waiting patiently in line for the doors to o... more
The Madison Fishing Expo (MFE) runs February 23-25 and will again donate all proceeds from its fishing show to worthy fishing projects for 2007, including funding for a yearly scholarship to UW Stevens Point. The show will be at the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center and to date has donated over $550,000 for fishing projects in Wisconsin. "We aren't in this for money," said Steve Hauge, MFE Board Member. "Our volunteers are in it to make fishing better, and more accessible for everyone who wants to pursue it. It's hard to believe we have grown to where we have just doing this on a part time basis. Now, close to 30,000 people attend the show." It's really quite a story tha... more
Sonar for Ice-Fishing by Bob Jensen
Open water anglers will usually admit that their most important tool for fishing success is sonar, which is often referred to as a depth-finder. Many anglers have a depth finder on the console of their boat so they can watch the depth and for fish-holding structure as they move around the body of water they're on, and another on the bow next to their electric motor so they can keep track of structure as they fish. A good sonar unit is just as important if you want to catch fish through the ice. Just as in open water fishing, certain areas will be better for fishing through the ice. You need to find those areas. To do so quickly, many ice-anglers use a sonar that looks a lot like a flashli... more
Turkey Hunting by Nancy Schraufnagel
This was my very first Turkey hunting experience ever and this takes place at Mirror State Park in Wisconsin Dells Area. I remember having beautiful weather and having my favorite hunting partner with me, my husband Carl. Well, it is very early in the morning and we arrived at the park. While getting all my hunting gear ready, we take a look around to see where the best place to hunt would be. After walking around for a bit, we found what I thought would be the best place to get all set up, and that we did. While I am getting myself all ready, my hubby seems to have left for a few minutes. Upon his returning, he had this some what half smile on his face. I thought nothing of this. While it ... more

January 2007

Fool Finicky Fish by Bob Jensen
Every now and then the fish get a little finicky, sometimes a lot finicky. Regardless of whether it’s open water or ice season, there are ways to encourage these finicky biters to take your bait. Following are some ways to get them to eat your lure when you’re ice-fishing. First of all, how do you tell if the fish are finicky? It is important to first determine that fish are actually in the area. You can do this one of two ways. If the water is shallow enough and clear, you can actually see the fish down there looking at your lure. In deeper water or where you can’t see the fish, a sonar will reveal their presence. You can "see" the fish come into the area where your lure is. ... more
It is definitely getting to be that time again. The snow is starting to fall temperatures are dropping and ice is forming on the lakes. First ice is a very exciting time to fish every year. The anticipation to fill your bucket full of fish is exciting but there are several techniques that will increase your chances for success. The first thing is you can't be set on just one jigging technique. There are several techniques to try. One of my favorites is a 6-12 inch raise with a slow drop. I will make a quick 6-12 inch raise of my rod tip sometime only 3-6 inches works as well but then slowly lower the rod tip. You should lower it as slow as possible. If you think you are going to slow... more
The Madison Fishing Expo (MFE) runs February 23-25 and will again donate all proceeds from its fishing show to worthy fishing projects for 2007, including funding for a yearly scholarship to UW Stevens Point. The show will be at the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center and to date has donated over $550,000 for fishing projects in Wisconsin. "We aren't in this for money," said Steve Hauge, MFE Board Member. "Our volunteers are in it to make fishing better, and more accessible for everyone who wants to pursue it. It's hard to believe we have grown to where we have just doing this on a part time basis. Now, close to 30,000 people attend the show." It's really quite a story tha... more
Ladies, let's go fishing. I don't see enough women enjoying this wonderful sport. It is so exciting to catch your first muskie, walleye or northern. Some women may be intimidated to go fishing with men, so that is why I am forming a women's fishing group in this area. It will be based on a women's fishing club in Florida called - Ladies, Let's Go Fishing. I also enjoy fishing with my husband who has taught me many things about fishing. I am going on a women's fishing trip in May up near Eagle River. Patricia Strutz, who is a women's fishing guide in this area, is devoted to getting more women involved in fishing. First and foremost she is a guide for both men and women. However,... more
Everyone can stand to catch a few more panfish through the ice. However, ice anglers typically settle into a routine when they head out onto the ice. They catch several fish and then the action slows down or stops entirely. Maybe they change depths, colors, or holes a few times but that is about it. Once they stop catching fish based upon this routine, they quit and blame it on the fish - "they just stopped biting." Prior to muttering this phrase again, try the following tips and techniques. 1. Vertical to Horizontal. The style of one's ice jig is just as important as its color. Most anglers are accustomed to using a tear-dropped shaped jig that hangs vertically in the water, such as Jamm... more
If this warm weather is keeping you off the ice then consider taking out the spinning tackle and heading to downtown Milwaukee. That's right smack in the middle of the busiest city in the state we have some excellent open water fishing all year. What to use? Grab a walleye rod some crawler's, leeches, spawn minnows, some casting spoons and be prepared for a potential mixed bag of trout and game fish such as walleyes, pike and bass. Yes I said crawlers and leeches; the great thing about fishing the downtown Milwaukee area is that there is a Warm Water Power Plant. This discharge usually keeps the water from 50-60 degree's all winter. Remember the walleye's don't realize it's winter a... more

December 2006

Graphite Replicas by Patricia Strutz
The Fish That Keeps Getting Away... I was spending the week fishing on Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada. My boat partner was my husband, Jim Behm. For those readers who are not familiar with me-let me introduce myself...I'm one of those addicted "muskyheads" that pound the water for hours on end and are happy when we see one fish follow our lure. I've caught hundreds of muskies over the years, but had yet to catch my true "fish-of-a-lifetime." That all changed recently. Up "in the bush" I caught, photographed and released a 54.5" long musky with huge 30" girth. That puts her in the 50# range. An unbelievable fish. An incredible fish. And she's still swimming around up there... more
Ice Fishing Update by Bob Jensen
Part of the fun of any new fishing season is the anticipation of exploring new waters, chasing a new species of fish, and using new fishing equipment. The ice-fishing world always has new items that can help you catch more fish or be more efficient in your time on the ice. Following are some ideas or products that will make your ice-fishing more productive. If you're going to catch anything while ice-fishing, you've got to put a hole in the ice. Some anglers put lots of holes in the ice so they can quickly find the area that is holding fish. Unfortunately, the blades on some augers wear out quickly, which makes it hard to cut through ice. And, in some areas of the Midwest, "snirt" is a... more
Ice Fishing: 101 by Rick Inzero
Here's a few tips I picked up and answers to questions I had after resuming ice fishing after being idle at it for 15 years... just to provide a reference, I usually fish for perch, walleye, northern pike, and pickerel through the ice here in New York State. We are allowed 5 tip-ups and 2 hand lines per person in most waters. How to locate the fish? Fish near other ice fishermen!! Chances are they are die-hards or locals who go out frequently, and know where the fish hang out. If you drive by a lake on a Saturday about 2-3 hours after sunrise, everybody should be set up, and you should get a good idea where the fish are. I've found trying to park the car in a legal spot to be a bigger... more
It is a clear cold morning in end of November. Some geese are still flying south for the winter as I drag my Frabill Ranger Solo out for my first excursion on the ice of the year. I am looking forward to icing my first fish. There is nothing like seeing a 10 inch bluegill or a 40 inch northern pike come swimming at the hole on 5 inches of crystal clear ice. But before you can head out onto the ice there are things that need to be prepared to make your trip not only successful but safe. This time of year can be extremely dangerous fishing and safety is the number one thing to consider before venturing out on your favorite lake. Having your equipment ready to go not only takes a lot of frus... more

November 2006

It is hard to imagine Wisconsin without its most famous river, the Bois Brule, or simply the Brule to those who know her best. Nestled in the pines of Douglas County, the Brule flows unimpeded 49 miles north until it empties into Lake Superior. Early explorers came up the Brule to meet its cousin, the St. Croix which flows south to the Mississippi. It is this north south trade route that kept people coming back. These early visitors told of the bounty of the land, great fishing and virgin forests. Soon rich timber barons and ultimately Presidents came to experience the Brule. The reason why they came to enjoy the river is the same reason thousands of people visit the Brule today - wild... more
As a professional fishing guide, many times I see clients show up inappropriately dressed for the weather. We may fish for 8-9 hours through steady, driving rain. Mother Nature is unpredicatable...you just might have to deal with a few days of rain on your next fishing trip, too. But, sometimes these rainy days yield big results (see photo!) In times past, outdoorswomen were very limited in their choices. Not so anymore. Top of the line Guidewear Raingear has been available in men's sizes for many years. Now, Cabela's offers this uncomparable quality gear in women's sizes, also. A complete 3-piece system consists of a Gore-tex parka, a zip out jacket (windstopper, water resistant, and ... more
With spring just around the corner, fishermen in Indiana and Chicago are already thinking of Coho. With any luck these fish will be heading to southeastern Wisconsin by April 15th. Several variables influence the actual migration patterns and timing, including stocking rates and weather. With ice already melting in the southern most regions of Lake Michigan, the young Coho will soon come together in an annual migration. Over the past several years, the Wisconsin DNR has stocked 500,000 fish annually, including 400,000 yearlings. These figures do not include stocking by other states including Michigan and Indiana. According to Brad Eggold, Wisconsin DNR Lake Michigan Southeast Region... more
Coulee Trout by Judy Nugent
My fly rod thumped vigorously as I stripped line on a native trout that had engulfed my homemade fly. I was in Grant County in late April casting for trout on the last day of the early season. I spent the night in a tent next to the gurgling brook and was awoken at first light by a rousing chorus of gobbling turkeys. The cool morning air soon gave way to warm breezes and a heavy hatch of insects. I heard this trout before I saw him. Fishing just downstream I heard the loud splash as he aggressively inhaled an unsuspecting insect. Even as I fought this trout, his cousins continued to feed, greedily taking advantage of nature's spring bounty. Trout fishing in southwestern Wisconsin has... more
Electroshocking by Judy Nugent
Why is shocking necessary? The southwest corner of the state boasts a large concentration of trout streams and the fish populations keep getting better. But it wasn't always this way. Back in the 1930's water quality and erosion were so bad that carp and suckers were showing up in the warm shallow streams. Thanks to land management practices and watershed initiatives, brown trout are well established and brook trout are making a comeback. Electroshocking is an integral part of watching and maintaining these populations. Other methods of trapping fish, like seining, are not practical because of make up of the streams. Seining is more appropriate for larger bodies of water with shal... more
When the air is crisp and the days get shorter, thousands of anglers head for the Lake Michigan tributaries to catch the migrating Chinook salmon, or Kings. Those monsters of the open lake are now struggling upstream to spawn. The adrenaline rush you get when you see a dozen 18 lb salmon in one small pool can take your breath away. Often I am so excited I can hardly cast. But for many fishermen this excitement soon turns to frustration when they can't entice the fish to hit. The right presentation can improve your chances of going home with a fish. The first thing you need to remember is that the fish aren't "hungry." As they get ready to spawn their bodies change. All of their ener... more
Fish Rocks in November by Mike Mladenik
One thing is for certain when November arrives fisherman will find no lines at the boat landing. You will be able to head out to your favorite lake and probably have the water to yourself. November can be trophy time for a variety of species but it can also be one of the most frustrating and unpredictable times in which to fish. The late fall period is one time of year when fishing the proper lake is a must. Lakes that are tough in summer and early fall can be hot before ice up. First off we must determine which lakes are going to be the most productive. Clear water is a must for consistent fishing. The clearer and more infertile the water the greater your odds will be to land a trophy f... more
The Upper Midwest has thousands of miles of trout streams especially in southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. But the best of the best is in southwestern Wisconsin. In an area known as the Driftless Area, clear, cool limestone creeks cascade through rolling hills and under sandstone cliffs. Located between Chicago and Minneapolis, this area was untouched by the many glaciers that came through the region over the millennia. The result is breath taking bluffs, steep hillsides that defy tractors, and spring fed creeks teeming with native trout. In this quaint part of the state driving is punctuated by unmarked, dirt roads and the Amish driven horse and buggy. It is an area that is st... more
Most women wouldn't even consider fishing in a tournament. But I have to tell you ­ if you like to fish you should! I have fished in local tournaments and Pro-Amateur tourneys and have had tons of fun and learned lots. I have never had a bad experience and all of the participants, usually all men, have been nothing but kind. The Pro-Am tourney I have been fishing in for the last 4 years is the Gary Roach Pro-Am in Minaki, Ontario, Canada. Don't let the name scare you ­ this one actually has some women participants and all of them that I have spoken with have had a great time and learned a lot. Mr Walleye, Gary, his son Dan, and all the rest of the guides are great people to get to know. ... more
The abundance of salmon found in Washington State and Oregon is now in Wisconsin, but it would die tomorrow without the continued efforts of the DNR. For the past four decades fishermen have timed their fall fishing outings with the annual spawning runs of the Chinook, Coho, and Steelhead. What seems so natural to us now is really unnatural. Although there were some salmon present in the Great Lakes as early as 1877, serious stocking didn't come about until the introduction of the first strain of Pacific salmon in the 1960's. In 1964 and 1965 the Wisconsin DNR got salmon eggs from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Raised and introduced as a predator to control the alewife population, n... more
The man I adore, my husband and friend of 31 years, has once again opened my eyes to his way of thinking. We've not only made the connection, but we've made the fishing connection. I've always had a pretty good insight into the way this man thinks, but there's been a few times in our marriage when I couldn't comprehend him. For instance, I could never understand why he needed a dozen fishing rods, hundreds of lures and everything else that is required and needed to fish today. I recall his childhood stories of him and his dad fishing together, and back then, all you needed was a fishing pole, hook, sinker, and an old soup can filled with a few worms. Once again, my husband has changed my way... more
Mississippi Fall Run by Judy Nugent
For serious sauger fishermen there are two times to fish the Mississippi River, the spring run and the fall run. Simple, but deadly. During both of these times of the year the elements are the same: cold weather and hot fishing. For most of us the weather alone is a mess and we are reluctant to leave the comfort of our warm home. But fishermen in Alma have another definition of "mess" - but I'll get to that later. When the news reports started to mention snow in parts of Canada and flurries in northern Minnesota, die-hards made their way to locks and dams for the annual ritual. And so far the run has lived up to its reputation. The last week of October saw hot action with fishermen g... more
Spring fishing on the Mississippi River centers on one thing - walleyes. Every year in April, the fish move upstream to spawn in the annual ritual. These fish are big and hungry, giving you your best chance at a trophy. Walleyes between 8 to 10 lbs are not uncommon with the occasional fish tipping the scales at 13 pounds. According to pro fisherman Ted Takasaki, "the Mississippi River is home to more walleyes and saugers now than ever." While many fishermen agree, there are still many among us who put back those large, trophy females to make sure the walleye population will be strong in the future. There are plenty of smaller fish to fill your stringer. This bite the real deal but you... more
Mississippi Walleye by Judy Nugent
For serious walleye fishermen there are two times to fish the Mississippi River, the spring run and the fall run. Simple, but deadly. During both of these times of the year the elements are the same: cold weather and hot fishing. For most of us the weather alone is a mess and we are reluctant to leave the comfort of our warm home. But fishermen in Alma have another definition of "mess" - but I'll get to that later. After the ice shacks have been dragged off the lakes and the raw weather of March is in full swing, die-hards made their way to locks and dams for the annual ritual. And this year's run should be as good as ever. Getting there Fishing starts early on the float with car... more
Native Brookies Return by Judy Nugent
As the fog slowly lifted from the valley floor, I heard a turkey gobble from the ridge above. The brook trout didn't seem to mind as I silently landed my sixth fish in the past hour. For those of you who haven't visited southwestern Wisconsin, you're in for a treat. Concentrate on native brook trout and you're sure to have a trip worth remembering. My obsession with native trout happened after I graduated from college. Before then I was happy with dumb stocked browns, after all I was a kid with a short attention span. But as I got older, I wanted a more sophisticated fishing experience. Unfortunately, thirty years ago I was hard pressed to find native brook trout in Wisconsin. They ... more
Two of Wisconsin southeastern rivers are home to a flurry of salmon as they return to spawn each fall. Other species come to gorge themselves on the egg feast. The Pike River in Kenosha County and the Root River near Racine play host to this urge to procreate and are poised for one of the best fall runs ever. The Pike River is located north of the city of Kenosha. The mouth of the river is located off of Hwy 32 about one and a half miles from downtown Kenosha. There is a convenient parking lot on the east side of the highway just downstream from the bridge. At the beginning of the salmon run, head for the beach and cast into the lake. Here fish are at their freshest and can be caught... more
Every fall thousands of fish enter the tributary streams of Lake Michigan, and where there are fish there are fishermen. While the vast majority of anglers are honest and ethical, there are still individuals who poach and find the salmon an easy target. I recently got the chance to talk to Joe Jerich, Marine Unit Supervisor and Warden. He said that in a 5 day period this past October, they issued 72 citations with over $19,000 in fines! All of that in only 5 days. Twenty two citations were given for fishing without a license, followed by failing to release a foul-hooked fish, fishing in a refuge, snagging, and over bagging. There were also four counts of resisting and obstructing a co... more
Recent Fish Kills by Judy Nugent
Sorry to say there have been at least 9 fish kills in SW Wisconsin this year so far. In February 6 miles of the west branch of the Sugar River were killed. Recently removed from the federal list of degraded waters, this stretch of river had been improved after $900,000 worth of restoration work. In February a large, unknown amount of liquid manure was spread on a frozen field near the town of Blue Mounds. After a rise in temperature, the manure ran down the slope into the water. The DNR still doesn't know the full extent of the damage. Over 100 dead fish have been recovered so far, but more dead fish may lie on the bottom. The DNR won't know the extent of the kill until the water temp... more
River Runners by Judy Nugent
It is fall and for anyone who lives near Lake Michigan, fall means salmon. In the next few months salmon and trout leave the deep waters of the lake in search of shallow gravel beds upstream. The sheer abundance of these trout and salmon make it a fishing bonanza. There are different sizes and types of fish in the river and the more you know about each one the better your trip will be. So gear up. This fall will be an excellent season for anglers. One of the best fall fisheries is the Chinook run. Also knows as King salmon or Kings, these powerful fish start entering the tributaries in September. Chinook are traditionally described as iridescent green or blue-green with black spots ... more
Shocking Results by Judy Nugent
In a previous article I gave an account of a typical shocking run conducted by the DNR. In general, the workers use probes to send electrical current into the water to locate and briefly disorient trout. The fish are then netted, measured, weighed, and returned to the water. In a recent visit to the Lacrosse DNR office I was able to learn even more about how electroshocking helps officials better manage our favorite trout streams. First, the DNR conducts shocking at assigned stations up and down the watershed to determine the overall health of trout populations. The location of the stations remains constant so that the DNR can better evaluate changes in fish, temperature, turbidity/flo... more
One drive through the Mississippi River town of Stoddard, and you'll know if fish are biting. In the spring, trucks parked up and down the road mean walleye. But in late December the traffic means hot bluegill action. Squeeze into the first parking spot you find and get ready to fish. Stoddard's habitat work has become a magnet for fish and fishermen alike. Most Mississippi backwaters are well known for good ice action, but the area around Stoddard has experienced a transformation thanks to new habitat work. Eight years ago Stoddard Bay was a vast body of deep water. There was little to no structure and very few weeds. High water levels from the dam had eroded away rock bars and fil... more
The ABC's of Fishing by Patricia Strutz
Want to learn how to catch more fish? Go to school! Here in Wisconsin we are blessed with thousands of bodies of water to wet a line on. Many of us grew up learning to fish from our parents or grandparents, but, not everyone is that lucky. As a fishing guide, I meet many anglers new to the sport. This is particularly true with women. How is a gal supposed to learn to jig for walleyes or troll for salmon? The Badger State hosts a myriad of "female-friendly fishing schools" which provide the opportunity to learn to fish for a variety of species. First, for ladies looking to attain their sea-legs I would highly recommend enrolling in a boater's safety course. Many communities ... more
There has been an on going tension between residents of Wisconsin and residents of Illinois and it has nothing to do with the football rivalry between the Packers and the Bears. This tension is about the apparent disparity over the yellow perch regulations on Lake Michigan. There is a saying that it is darkest just before it goes pitch black. These are definitely the dark days for perch. Since the 1980's perch populations have declined more than 90%. In 1996 the commercial fishery was closed and stringent angling restrictions were put into place. Still perch numbers stayed low with only strong year class 1998. With such dwindling numbers and the 1998 year class reaching the end of its... more
Southwestern Wisconsin is synonymous with great trout fishing. Here beautiful hills surround cold spring fed creeks that are rich in invertebrates and teaming with trout. But it wasn't always this way. In 1977 the DNR initiated its Trout Stamp program and started an impressive 27 year run of improving trout streams state wide. The LaCrosse DNR office has the most aggressive habitat restoration program in the state according to Dave Vetrano. Nearly 23% of all trout stamp money is directed to the La Crosse DNR office for habitat work and hundreds of miles of stream have been improved. But it isn't only the efforts of the DNR. Many players are involved from the Soil and Water Department ... more
The Lake Michigan fisheries netting and surveying has already started for 2005. Yellow Perch, Steelhead, Lake Trout, and Walleye are all on the agenda, making this spring very busy for the DNR. Underway already by the end of last year, the first species to be completed this year was the Yellow Perch. Since the 1980's, perch populations have declined more than 90% and the DNR has been searching for answers. Wind and wave action along will low food availability and increased predation are blamed for this decline. In the past, studies have shown that a low population of perch is still able to produce a large number of eggs. Yet survival from the egg and larvae stage to the fingerling st... more
Walleyes at Night by Bob Jensen
On some bodies of water, at some times of the year, the walleyes bite best at night. That is especially true in the fall months. Here is how you can get in on this action. The best night-bite lakes for walleyes are often the lakes with deep, clear water, although I have done well on smaller, darker lakes from time to time. However, it’s a pretty safe bet that the deeper, clearer lakes will be better. Some anglers plan their night fishing trips around the moon phases, and if you can do so, that’s great. But just like with any fishing, the best plan is to go whenever you get the chance. For the record though, I can remember fishing under a full moon many nights when the fish really bit g... more
WDNR Fish Surveys by Judy Nugent
Every year the Wisconsin DNR completes a series of fish surveys. They use both nets and electroshocking to catch the fish and keep track of the health of Lake Michigan. The species on the agenda for this spring are yellow perch, Steelhead, Lake Trout, and walleye, making this a very busy time for the DNR. The yellow perch surveys started already at the end of last year. Since the 1980's, perch populations have declined more than 90% and the DNR has been searching for answers. Wind and wave action along will low food availability and increased predation are blamed for this decline. In mid February the DNR finished their mesh netting of Yellow Perch. They had hoped to be done earlier,... more
As I'm approaching age 50, I've finally discovered my passion in life. I LOVE TO FISH! I guess you could say that I've always had a genetic urge to fish. As a child growing up, I always had a strong desire to fish, but was never given an opportunity to go, as only my four brothers were allowed; you know the old cliché, "Girls can't fish!" I always enjoyed hearing about my brother's stories, but I never realized what I was missing out on. However, I hoped that someday I would pick up the sport. As I went through life, getting married and taking care of a family, I had forgotten about my goal of fishing. My husband would fish here and there with friends, but it didn't dawn on me to tr... more

October 2006

As the water cools from the summertime highs the Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Musky again move back to the shallow weed flats. In the fall the fish are aggressively feeding before winter sets in. The best presentation to catch them is the tried and true spinnerbait. The best thing about a spinnerbait is the many different presentations available. From slow rolling them in deep water to trolling large baits for covering a lot of water, spinnerbaits provide many opportunities for fast action. The first thing to consider is the weight of the spinnerbait. The best all around bait that I use is a ½ oz. Booyah spinnerbait made by Pradco. Using anything lighter makes it very hard t... more
The October Bite by Mike Mladenik
The only problem I have in October is deciding what to fish for. Whether you are after a 40 pound musky, a 12-pound walleye or six pound smallmouth, the time is right in October. Sure there are those diehard fishermen who only chase after on specie. However, there are many like myself who prefer to fish for all species. This means taking advantage of every minute and spending your time wisely. This is no time to check out new water. Fisherman will do best by fishing water they know is productive and has produced trophy fish in the past. Each year fisherman put in their time in hopes of landing a trophy musky in the fall. Pick a lake or flowage with a quality musky fishery that has produce... more
The autumn months offer so many options to sports enthusiasts. There's football on Saturdays and Sundays. There's goose, duck, pheasant, deer, and small game hunting. There's the traditional "drive-around" to look at leaves in their brilliant fall colors, visit orchards, and to do whatever else people who enjoy that sort of thing do. What many outdoor folks forget, or don't realize, is that a day on the water in the fall can be very, very rewarding, in a number of ways. Here's what I mean. Fall fish have received a message from Mother Nature that it's time to start fattening up for the winter months. Mother Nature sends this message through falling water temperatures and shorter ... more

September 2006

Fall Bass by Mike Mladenik
One over looked period to catch largemouth bass consistently is the early fall period. Many bass anglers do well on lakes and flowages in spring and summer but they fail to key in on the major bass movements that are about to occur once. These bass movements on many natural lakes and reservoirs can be dramatic and offer excellent fishing. Many bass anglers love to fish the slop and shallow weeds in summer. By early September fishing the slop in the back bays is no longer a predictable pattern. While there may be a few stragglers in the slop, the bulk of the bass have moved. What happens in the early fall is that the weeds start to die off and there is a major migration of baitfish into ... more
Just because it's after Labor Day, that doesn't mean that it's the end of the fishing season. My best months for smallmouth bass are September and October. The shorter days and cooler nights bring the suspended main lake smallmouth bass back to their rocky haunts. This time of year I prefer points; main lake rocky points. The lake I fish most of the year is Lake Geneva in SE Wisconsin. Lake Geneva is a very deep lake with a lot of gravel and rock. Rock is a perfect place to find crayfish; which is a primary food source for the smallmouth bass. The points I like are where the water comes from the deepest portion of the lake. For example, Lake Geneva has a couple places where the ... more
Sometimes anglers get in a rut. So much of the time we tie on the lure that was productive on our last fishing trip and stick with it too long. Although that lure might be producing o.k., there could be another lure that would be much more productive. That point smacked me over the head on a recent fishing trip. My nephew Sam and I traveled to central Minnesota in early August to join our bass-catching friend Mike Frisch. We had an afternoon and the next morning to chase bass. The bass were "on a pretty good jig-worm bite," Mike told us when we arrived. That made sense, largemouth are almost always willing to eat a jig-worm, especially this time of year. Sam has caught a lot of fish an... more

August 2006

The idea of courtesy at the boat ramp is something that should be thought of early in the season, but in reality, anytime is a good time to think about getting your boat in and out of the water quickly but safely. There is no need or reason why a ramp should be tied up by a boater loading or unloading for more than a couple of minutes maximum. On a recent weekend at a popular Midwest lake that I was visiting, it was late in the afternoon and a storm was quickly approaching. We headed back to our take-out point, a three-wide ramp. We arrived in plenty of time to beat the storm, but two of the ramps were tied up for ten minutes apiece by boaters who were loading their boats. If the storm w... more