Vilas County Lakes

The bigger lakes tend to be better fishing, but now that the boat traffic has died down the smaller ones may turn on. I like eagle sports for bait and info.

My parents are heading up to a place on the Eagle River chain tomorrow. I would love for them to have success on the water. What lakes do you recommend that I send them too for walleye or crappie/panfish? Or at a minimum which bait shop do you suggest I have him stop in at to get info?-thanks a bunch!

Client Rich and I Fished yesterday morning For walleyes. Conditions were a light  misting rain off and on. Caught lots of walleyes on jig and crawlers in 20 ft. depths.The fall bite is on in this type of lake.

(NO FISH NO PAY (GUARANTEED!)
 
Switched over to a Perch day. 
 
More of the nicest clients any Guide could ever want to work with.
 
My hat goes off to this couple.
 
Yes, I can hear the oil popping on Lake Crisco, even this early in the day. 
 
Water temp at 64.
 
All fish deep.
 
Partly cloudy, some plastics and some live bait. 
 
Strikes were subtle. 
 
Some openings in October.
 
As always, stay positive think clearly, do not listen to negative talk and do not listen to negative people.
 
God Bless John Andrew

That is because crappies are so easy to catch in the fall. Will not last forever as a few people are taking 25 crappies aday

Is there any reason why guys are hitting the flowages more so than the big lakes? Are the big lakes just not producing now because of the fall changes underway? Are the crappies more readily available on the flowages and people are looking to capitalize more so on those and walleyes? Just trying to gauge why it seems people are fishing the flowages more so than the big lakes at this point in the season. Any feedback would be helpful in planning my next few lakes this upcoming weekend. 

Good fishing or poor, this is the time to be here in the Northwoods.  The colors are getting prettier (never used that word in this report before) every day.   Forecast for lows in mid-50’s to highs in mid-70’s will make for a great week to be outdoors.
 
Largemouth Bass:  Good – Nice “green” Bass hitting spinnerbaits and chatterbaits for anglers targeting Pike.   Cabbage flats holding best action.   Typical plastic tactics using creatures and Wackys picking up fish along edges of weeds.
 
Smallmouth Bass:  Good – Nice fish off gravel humps in 14-26’.  Ned rigs, drop-shots and tubes.  Still some BIG Smallies relating to inside weed edges taking top-water (Whopper Ploppers, etc.).
 
Musky:  Good – With water temps in mid-60’s and forecast as stated above, bucktails and top-water relatively shallow (4-10’) best.  This bite will remain until water cools to mid-50’s (turn-over) so keep those blades a turnin’ for now!
 
Walleye:  Good – Action very dependent on daily conditions (Thursdays high skies – Ouch!).   But overall fish being caught jigging large fats or 1/2 crawlers on 1/8 – 1/4 oz jigs or #2.5 - #3 Shiver Minnows over gravel humps.  Some days, when gravel not producing, scale back to 1/16 oz weedless and hit outside weed edges to find eater Walleyes and Perch mixed.
 
Northern Pike:  Good – Chasing down spinnerbaits, Mepps Aglias #4 or #5’s and chatterbaits over cabbage flats.  Clear days pick through the weeds with jig and chub on wire leader.
 
Yellow Perch:  Good – Very nice Perch relating to wood and weed pockets in 5-8’.  1/2 crawler 1st choice, but medium – large fats picking up Perch to 12” this past week.
 
Bluegill:  Good – Nice Gills continue to show up, with measured 8-10” not uncommon.  Can’t beat a crawler/bobber combo in 6-10’ where good green cabbage or drowned wood available.
 
Crappie:  Good - Fair – This one really depends on who you talk to.  Some decent catches reported, but not to the typical “fall” standard.  The bobber/minnow crowd picking up some success, but other anglers fan casting small spinners, beetle spins finding fish suspended 5-8’ down over 20-25’ outside weed edges.  Start up (where fish are typically active) and work down until you find biters!
 
Except for some early week rain, looks like a great week of consistent weather.  Great time to enjoy the Northwoods.

(NO FISH NO PAY (GUARANTEED!)
 
Back to posting after a few days of non posting. 
 
Many Bass boated today.

 Some very good size.
 
All fish on deep rocks.
 
Water temp at 65.
 
Some rain.
 
Rain tomorrow, as reported.
 
A "special thank you" to M.J. Taylor for her I. T.  expertise.
 
Awesome job M. J..
 
Some openings in October. 
 
As always, stay positive think clearly, do not listen to negative talk and do not listen to negative people.
 
God Bless John Andrew

I Agree Misty1.  I try to let it pass, just like some jerk on the road.  I have never had words with someone other than a quick passive-aggressive comment they might not even hear.  It’s not worth it in the end, and makes you feel how we would driving in rush hour traffic, which is a feeling we are all trying to escape as we fish the northwoods.  
My experience on the lakes was mixed.  I like the habitat and scenery, but it was tough to fish given the bright calm day and weekend traffic.  We managed a little of everything.  Launched on Clear, I think, in some back bay for duck hunting boats.  Great view coming out with fog and sunrise, but took some time.  I think we spent 80 percent of our time on Clear.

tight lines,
fs