Vilas County Lakes

Thursday 5/2/24

I'm real short of time here so let's make this as simple as possible. Here are the 3 different ways that I usually fish around the Opener.

1. Find green or greening weeds and fish from the outside edges to the inside edges and you should find fish.  Use small and light weight jigs and artificials.  I use small fats, half a crawler, leeches and small grub tails or paddle tails on the 1/32 oz jigs.  Artificials I use anything small that rattles, lots of choices there.  Fish through the weeds and over the top until the fish tell you what they want.

2. Fish shorelines with any type of crankbait or plastic, 4" or less.  Do this in low light or darkness conditions. Rig a few poles with different types of baits so you don't have to re-tie on something else in the dark.

3.  Fish the warm part of the day in the warmest water you can find with live bait and small plastics for great panfish action.  Fish the green and greening weeds and also out past the edges for suspending fish or fish on deeper grass or mud flats.
 
I've started taking a few reservations for guiding this summer.  That always warms my bones.  Give a call and we'll get out and have some fun.  All the info is on the website at https://deweycatchemandhow.com/pages/northwoods-fishing-guide-service
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The shop is pretty much set up for open water tactics now.  A few new items and a whole bunch of your favorite tried and true items are hanging on the hooks waiting for you to pick up.
Right now for live bait we have Jumbo Panfish worms, Crawlers, Wax worms, White, Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Pink & Multi-colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads, Walleye Suckers, Dave Minnows, Mud Minnows, Blacktail Chubs, Northern Bait, Mousees AND LEECHES!  

Our OPENER hours are:
Monday thru Thursday - 7am to 6pm
Friday - 7am to 10pm
Saturday - 4am to 5pm
Sunday - 5am to 5pm

After the OPENER:
Monday thru Thursday - 5am to 6pm
Friday - 5am to 7pm
Saturday - 5am to 5pm
Sunday - 5am to 5pm

We have to continue to squelch a few rumors.  The shop is still for sale.  Business is great but Linda and I are ready to ease into retirement.  WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS!  If you have an interest in owning and operating the largest non-franchised bait shop in Wisconsin, call Jim Cheshire, Realtor, at 715-892-4223.

Jeff BolanderDewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guide Post
715-892-2751 cell
www.DeweyCatchemAndHow.com

Minocqua chain spearing update.

Been lots of questions about this so here is an excerpt from VILAS COUNTY FISHING by Jeff van Remortal who puts to bed any rumors going around."There are still quite a few questions and misconceptions about The (MC) Minocqua Chain (Minocqua, Tomahawk, Kawaugesauga, Mid and connected waters) as we head into Opening weekend. PLEASE read the following.YES the MC was harvested by Tribal Members this past week during Spring Spearing.YES it was legal for Tribal Members to Harvest walleye on the MC, however, the original agreement of 10 years "no harvest" was not set to expire until 2025.NO hook and line harvest will be allowed on MC this weekend (Opener) or until the proper legislation (in progress) is passed to lift the harvest moratoriumYES this triggers the emergency open rule and the MC may be open to hook and line harvest in 2024. The tentative date is July 4th, but as I understand it, that date could change pending when/if the legislation passes. There is a meeting May 2 at 930 am to discuss lifting the catch and release restrictions. The meeting will be available for public viewing on the DNR YouTube channel.YES when/if legislation passes to open hook and line harvest on MC there will be a special management bag limit of 1 walleye per person between 18-22 inches or over 28 inches. This means all fish under 18 inches or between 22 and 28 inches must be released. Daily bag limit of 1 fish, in total, per person.YES there is a chance the Catch and Release Rule on MC remains in place pending public input and written testimony via special management meeting May 2. You can register by 11AM today to comment. You can also watch on May 2nd on the DNR's YouTube channel. The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. May 2nd.Myself and many other area Bait Shop Owners and Guides have been flooded with questions asking about this topic. Please read the above and then read it again. Comments are welcome, but absolutely no derogatory, racial or other inappropriate remarks from either side will be permitted and will result in an immediate removal from group."Thanks JVM.

Should have had the Tribes sign a Treaty to keep the 10 year shutdown on MC.
Their handshake agreement won't hold up in court.

Wednesday 5/1/24

I'll post my fishing report for the OPENER tomorrow.  

Been lots of questions about this so here is an excerpt from VILAS COUNTY FISHING by Jeff van Remortal who puts to bed any rumors going around.

"There are still quite a few questions and misconceptions about The (MC) Minocqua Chain (Minocqua, Tomahawk, Kawaugesauga, Mid and connected waters) as we head into Opening weekend. PLEASE read the following.

YES the MC was harvested by Tribal Members this past week during Spring Spearing.

YES it was legal for Tribal Members to Harvest walleye on the MC, however, the original agreement of 10 years "no harvest" was not set to expire until 2025.

NO hook and line harvest will be allowed on MC this weekend (Opener) or until the proper legislation (in progress) is passed to lift the harvest moratorium

YES this triggers the emergency open rule and the MC may be open to hook and line harvest in 2024. The tentative date is July 4th, but as I understand it, that date could change pending when/if the legislation passes. There is a meeting May 2 at 930 am to discuss lifting the catch and release restrictions. The meeting will be available for public viewing on the DNR YouTube channel.

YES when/if legislation passes to open hook and line harvest on MC there will be a special management bag limit of 1 walleye per person between 18-22 inches or over 28 inches. This means all fish under 18 inches or between 22 and 28 inches must be released. Daily bag limit of 1 fish, in total, per person.

YES there is a chance the Catch and Release Rule on MC remains in place pending public input and written testimony via special management meeting May 2. You can register by 11AM today to comment. You can also watch on May 2nd on the DNR's YouTube channel. The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. May 2nd.
Myself and many other area Bait Shop Owners and Guides have been flooded with questions asking about this topic. Please read the above and then read it again. Comments are welcome, but absolutely no derogatory, racial or other inappropriate remarks from either side will be permitted and will result in an immediate removal from group."

Thanks JVM.

I've started taking a few reservations for guiding this summer.  That always warms my bones.  Give a call and we'll get out and have some fun.  All the info is on the website at https://deweycatchemandhow.com/pages/northwoods-fishing-guide-service
------------
The shop is pretty much set up for open water tactics now.  A few new items and a whole bunch of your favorite tried and true items are hanging on the hooks waiting for you to pick up.
Right now for live bait we have Jumbo Panfish worms, Crawlers, Wax worms, White, Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Pink & Multi-colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads, Mousees AND LEECHES!  
Our OPENER hours are:Monday thru Thursday - 7am to 6pmFriday - 7am to 10pmSaturday - 4am to 5pmSunday - 5am to 5pm
We have to continue to squelch a few rumors.  The shop is still for sale.  Business is great but Linda and I are ready to ease into retirement.  WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS!  If you have an interest in owning and operating the largest non-franchised bait shop in Wisconsin, call Jim Cheshire, Realtor, at 715-892-4223.
Jeff BolanderDewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guide Post715-892-2751 cellwww.DeweyCatchemAndHow.com

NO FISH NO PAY (GUARANTEED!)
 
Another fantastic fishing opener is on the way.
 
Water temps are up from last years opener and Crappie, Perch and other specie are and have been reported as being currently produced.
 
Many fishermen are seen on multiple lakes across Vilas County WI.
 
Thank you all for your continued support.
 
Some openings in June and July.
 
Remember, support your local business’s.
 
Some openings in June and july of 2024.
 
As always, stay positive think clearly, do not listen to negative talk and do not listen to negative people.
 
God Bless
 
John Andrew

All of these comment focus on the harvester being the largest impact on population. Birth and survival rates are plummeting across all species including humans. Take a deeper look into what is in the water or lacking in the environment before continuing to blame the people who are trying to maintain these populations for seven generations beyond their own...  

I really like all the good comments regarding the walleye. I fish all over and I fish a lot. I really have enjoyed taking my family and my friend's family up to lake Minocqua catching walleye lately. All the kids five to eleven can actually catch a walleye during the day out there. Yeah it would be fun to eat one once in a while but just the fact that the kids get an opportunity to catch walleye's out of a lake UP NORTH that's not over speared or overharvested by whity is a true testament to what shutting down the fishing and spearing can do!

Good fishing. 

SILVERFISH

I only agree with the timing issue and while I do not agree with the spearing, but realistically, hook and line have taken FAR more fish than the spears, their is NO way to get that count.  So much advancement and the constant catch and KILL mentality has destroyed fishing to where it is not fishing it is catching!  
Simply look at the Panfish, have they been speared?  Where has that population or size gone?  Its hard for people to be honest with themselves, but EACH person is responsible to themselves.  I catch and release 99% of the time here and at my camp in Ontario, encourage everyone to do the same, because no fish is no FUN! 

Haha... yeah I'd like to see a discussion where they debate what is more valuable to the people.  The walleye fillets or the casino income.  Look, hey I get it. If it's a spiritual thing or if it's a needed source of food income then fine.  But I still haven't heard about what happens with all that fish that is speared.  Posts below mention freezer stuffing. I gotta think there are a lot of freezers being stuffed with the likes of 32,000.... 64,000 fillets.  Again, I think it's the timing of it.  During the spawn... taking the out the eggs producers... is the biggest impact.

Whatever... nobody will do anything about it unless there is financial motivation.

All Walleyes need to be less than 46cm, or 18.1”.

The Ontario Canada walleye daily bag limit is 4.  If you choose to buy the lesser expensive Conservation license, then the walleye daily and possession limit is 2.

Green Bay allows one walleye over 15" during the spawn.  The Fox River is one walleye over 28" during the spawn.