Oconomowoc Lake

What is the launch rate? ..thinking about giving this lake a try and wanted to make sure I have enough or is this lake like the other Waukesha Lakes where you pay online... Thanks for any info anyone can provide 

Went out on Saturday the 24th at around 7:30ish. Launched from the outflow of Oconomowoc and portaged over the dam to the lake. 1st bad sign of the day came when these 2 clowns in a giant a** boat with a 150hp motor were fishing right on the side of the dam, in which there's two signs in big bold red letters that state you may not fish or loiter by the dam among the other rules posted on the sign. Both of those rules were broken by the neanderthals with the boat, which they literally had parked 6" away from the dam. When confronted about it they just said "ok". I just headed on with my business out to my normal spot on the lake and it wasn't until another 25 minutes had passed before they finally got the idea to try fishing legally. People may not get as upset as I am about this but I think it comes down to the fact that the entire lake was open, and they have a giant boat with an enormous motor but yet still fish illegally and block my way onto the water just because they want to. I was quick to find a couple of walleyes out on the lake, but couldn't get them to bite, with jerk minnow plastics, and crawlers all on 1/16 oz jigs. Tried finding some perch later on, but only caught a couple dinks until I was interrupted by a nice 35-42" muskie 5' from my boat. Unfortunately for me my unlucky pattern followed as I couldn't get him to bite either. I tried some deeper water and along the drop offs, 15-30 fow with no bites, usually I have luck in other lakes with that depth but the couple times on Oconomowoc, I just haven't been able to catch anything in the deeper water, a couple tips on what I can do to catch fish in the deeper water would be nice, I've seen big pike and bass so I assume those must be what's down there primarily, or maybe even the illusive crappie that I've never ever seen so far in this lake. After a tough day I finally called it quits at around 12:30.  

If you want regulation of small tournaments or small lakes, say less than 1000 acres ... gotta stop reports like this and figure out a better system... some have already been mentioned 

....otherwise you're inviting more and heavier regulation... bad news for local bait shops... fishing clubs... and businesses 

BadgerBass, yes they should have had release boats, but unfortunately human nature left to its own control could lead to inaccurate information including possibly cheating. All sports need refs, umps, and judges because of this. To put a judge in every boat for a small derby is almost impossible. Bass fishing tournaments have skyrocketed in popularity and that is good and bad in many ways. People need to be responsible for the resources if they want to enjoy this sport. 

That picture is ridiculous. What specific tournament was this? These bozos should have to answer for that.

Shame on the DNR for not doing a better job controlling these stupid worthless tournaments 

In 2023 why the heck are you transporting fish up the river to be weighed in the parking lot for a bass tournament? And then release them in the river that is 80 degreee with zero flow.

Was the $50 purse worth killing those fish? How many more floaters are there?  Why not run a paper tournament based on inches, or a MLF tournament and weigh on the water?

Anyone know the current status of the water level on the river from the launch? Would like to get out there this weekend, but with the lack of rain not sure I'll make it from the launch to the lake. Thanks! 

Late report from Saturday...  fished 6am to ~2pm.  Slow morning, but action picked up mid day.  Finished with 4 SMB, 10 LMB, a pike and 7 fat rock bass.  Most bass on the smaller side, but did catch a few in the 16"- 17" range and lost one really nice smallie...  probably pushing 20".  :(

All action came up on shallow flats with tube jigs.  A little sunshine makes a big difference this time of year, if you have the option of picking your days... but you can still do decent on a cloudy day too.

Take care!

D.

Beautiful day to be out. 3 LMB lost 2 fish, tube bait and wacky rig. Fished 4 to 2ft of water. Water temp 60-63 degrees

Slow going this morning, but managed to scrounge up 6 bass.  A couple nice smallies 19" & 18" and a chunky 17" largie in that 6-pack  Tube jigs up on the flats did all the work.