Vilas County Lakes

Sometimes when I write this report I feel like saying "Ditto" and hitting the send key.  Not much of anything has changed but you can feel the change coming.  Slight coloration in the leaves and ferns, cooler nights, geese gathering,  and everything is starting to smell like fall.  It will happen soon enough so lets not rush it, eh?

Panfish, LM and SM Bass are still on fire.  Plenty of action to go around for sure.  Get that 1/2 crawler and light jig and throw it at the weed edges and something will hit it.  If the action slows keep inching out deeper.  Same thing if you're throwing plastics.  For example, don't be afraid of wacky worming in 30-40 fow.  You'll love the results.  

Dragging your favorite stick baits over mudflats and next to deep weed edges is also working well.  Experiment with different lengths and running depths to dial in the correct MO for your area.  So many variables there, but again, you'll love the results.

Leeches are done for the season.  I know, a sad day for many.  But there are alternatives.  One really good one is the leech plastic by Gitzit.  Very unique shape that allows the bait to float up and down like a real leech on jig being retrieved or even on a slip bobber.  Those of you that have used their paddle tails and tubes in the past know how soft and full of scent they are and how well they work.  Try 'em.  You'll love the results.

The lakes are starting to empty out a little with school starting in some areas so now is the perfect time to hit the water and make some memories.  With daytime temps in the 70's and lake temps also in the 70's, it'll be pretty hard to be disappointed.  Take the kids out, find a deep weed edge and enjoy the smiles.
------------
We got a big WAREHOUSE WINTER PRE-SEASON SALE going on now.  If you're thinking about a new Auger, Shelter, Flip-Over, Hub, clothing and/or any type of electronics, now may be the best time to buy them. Most items are at cost or below.  See the web site for details.  The sale is limited to items in stock, in-store or on the website.  No special orders.  Blackfish gear is still 20% off right now.
Right now for live bait we have Jumbo Crawlers, Small crawlers, Panfish Worms, Wax worms, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads, Dace, Blacktails, Redtails, Walleye Suckers, Medium and Large Musky Suckers.  LEECHES ARE DONE FOR THE SEASON.

Our normal weekly hours are:
Monday thru Thursday from 6am to 7pm
Friday from 6am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday 5am to 6pm

Let's squelch a few rumors.  The shop is for sale.  Business is great but Linda and I are ready to retire.  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 our Realtor, Eric Johnson, at 715-892-1234 or call Jeff at 715-892-2751.

Jeff Bolander, owner of Dewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guide Post at www.DeweyCatchemAndHow.comFacebook
page at https://www.facebook.com/DeweyCatchemAndHow

Thursday 8/24/23

Mountain,
Excellent report below. I try to stay active but have to say I'm exhausted reading all you were able to accomplish in 1 week! Must have young kids to keep you going! Glad you had a great week. Thanks for the report. Stay forever young!

Fished with glen yesterday at mid day. Very windy conditions on this fairly large clear water lake. Caught our fish over deep sandgrass in approx.20 ft' depths. Used just jigs with crawlers and fatheads.

Spent last week fishing in the Boulder Junction/Manitowish Waters area. Below is the summary:

Walleye-  We found fish primarily in cabbage on the deeper edges in the evening. We used underspin jigs with 3.5" paddle tail trailers that they seemed to really like. Also got a few fish on slip bobbers/leeches.

Northern-  Not targeted, but found fish on deeper edges with weeds. Bass spinners, Mepps and Rapalas were the ticket.

LMB/SMB-  Largemouth were all over the place. Cabbage/wood laydowns were best. Wacky works, underspins, bass spinners, Texas rigged, jig/pig were all effective. Shallow in the morning/evening. Deep weed edges in the day. Smallies were deeper on rocks/sand/weeds/wood. Jig/trailer were best as were jerkbaits.

Crappie/gills/perch-  Deeper suspending. Found a couple for the frying pan drifting deeper areas with plastics/minnow/waxies. 

Fished a total of 16 different lakes over the course of the week. We had so much fun fishing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming. People are awesome and the scenery is top notch as usual!

Yesterday had Conrad and his father who also named Conrad in the boat for all day of walleye fishing. Started out fishing a big lake but with the wind and rain we caught only 1 keeper and 1 short. We had to get off that lake so by10 o’clock we moved to a smaller lake and got started. First spot they were on fire we caught at least 40 walleyes of which 6 were keepers the rest were short. We fished a few more spots and only caught shorts and about 15 small mouth bass. What a day we, over 60 fish boated all caught on jig and crawler. Thanks guys you were awesome. I have a few days this month still open more in September and October for any one that wants walleyes and crappies thanks.

Following a cold morning (45 degrees), which brought about a small snap of color to the Northwoods, a few sugar maples have popped and other trees are showing a lighter shade of color.  Air temps have risen since, keeping most lake surface temps in the low 70’s.  Patterns have remained steady as anglers report fairly consistent action – be it good or bad.
 
Bluegill:  Very Good-Good – Active over cabbage beds of 8-12’.  A variety of lures including Mini-Mites, 1” twisters and 1/32 oz Beetle spins.  Worms and Gulp Alive grubs and leeches also effective.  Unless I missed it, should be a flying ant hatch very soon, fun for fly fishers to get a top-water bite going.
 
Yellow Perch:  Very Good-Good – Active in weeds, same as Gills but lower in water column.  1/2 crawlers or medium fatheads best.  Some very nice, 10-12” Perch in wood on Flowages (very low, be very careful)
 
Largemouth Bass:  Very Good-Good – Still best bite using Wacky Worms in cabbage flats.  Twitching stickbaits, ticking weed tops with square billed cranks and evening top-water baits (Jitterbugs, Whopper Ploppers, etc.) good fun.
 
Smallmouth Bass:  Very Good-Good – Rock/gravel humps and coontail edges of 14-18’ on Ned rigs and drop shot rigs using imitation craws and 3” Wacky Worms or 3” Gulp minnows.   Nice 15-20” fish this past week.
 
Musky:  Good – Top-water action on Dr. Evils, Whopper Ploppers, Pace Makers and bucktails worked over cabbage edges of 10-16’.  Good action, not a lot of large fish reported.
 
Northern Pike:  Fair – Chubs and suckers on jigs with light wire leaders.  Some good action reported using spinnerbaits.
 
Walleye:  Fair – Deeper mud of 20-26’ using shiver minnows on larger lakes.  On smaller bodies of water and Flowages, try #5 Shad raps and #5 Flicker Shads worked over drowned wood producing, as is red tails on weedless jigs.
 
Crappie:  Fair – Few reports, though some big slabs (to 15”) caught on cranks meant for Walleyes in 6-10’ wood.
 
A little cool down (though not as much as last week) followed by warm weather by weekend (into low 80’s) should keep fishing stable.  Watch for cool down, when it arrives, to spur bite on.

Yesterday was Mike and Don in the boat, with no wind it was a tough bite. We caught are walleyes in the morning on jig and crawlers. We caught 6 keepers a 25” and 3 walleyes that were 23 3/4” and 2 shorts. But after 12 o’clock we get a bite. Thanks guys it was fun.

Fished a few days over the past week with pretty decent results.  Tried for crappie in the weeds that we have been on all summer, but they seemed to have moved on.  Ended up getting on a great smallmouth bite while walleye fishing.  They were hitting nightcrawlers under slip bobber in 8-12 feet with rocks.  Had some mid to upper teens fish, and a real solid 20 1/2".  We got a few walleye as well in the same area on jigs with leeches.  My wife has fished her butt off for her first musky this summer, and was finally rewarded for her efforts during the tournament this past weekend.  She got this 45 3/4" on a mini boilermaker in 8 feet of water.  I held it for the picture since she doesn't have any confidence handling a fish that size.

Was a 2nd day with John and Mark on the big lake looking for big walleyes. Started out slow, fishing two spots had no fish but got 2 on the 3rd spot. Then we were looking again and found a nice school in 23 fow on some bigger gravel. We got 8 walleyes there and a sucker giving us 10 walleyes 1 was a keeper 2 were over 24” and the biggest was 25”. Good day guys awesome again thanks.

Today was big walleyes on a big deep lake with John and Mark. We caught 18 walleyes of which 3 were keepers 2 shorts and 13 over 20”. The biggest one was 29 1/4 and 5 were over the 24”. Was an awesome day guys and we were in 20 to 26 fow on gravel bars and drop off. Jig and crawlers is what worked for us. I still have days open in August September and October.