Oneida County

I swore after that long winter we just went through that I would never complain about anything this summer.  It's tough though.  The skeeters are unbelievable.  Com'on dragon flies!  We finally did see a few dragon flies last night on the water and a few of them were laying flay on the water as they were too full to get up!  Well, that might be a fish story.  And it was 85 and humid this morning.  But I'm not complaining...  My arms and back are sore from catching fish but I'm not complaining.

The fishing has been incredible.  Perfect timing with the weather and time of year has made for excellent fishing for pretty much all species.  If you can't catch a fish now just bring in all your gear and we'll find someone who can use it.

Crappies of course are king with most folks this time of year.  It's hard to keep enough crappie minnows in stock and we have room for 14 gallons of them at a time!  Guys and gals love chasing those buggers.  Depending on the lake, they are just in, just out or in the middle of the spawn.  All sorts of small plastics work as well as even full crawlers.

Smallies are coming on strong.  Just about every warm shoreline has them lurking around.  We caught a bunch last night in 1 foot of water next to 8 foot of water on 1/32 oz jigs tipped with full crawlers.  But I'm sure leeches, minnows and a myriad of other plastics would have worked, too.

A couple days before that we were fishing the warmest bay in the lake next to stumps and we pounded, walleye, perch and bullheads.  They were pounding the mud for beetle bugs.  We were using gulp minnows and full crawlers on 1/32 oz jigs.

The heat's not going to quit for a while so plan your day accordingly.  The water temps have jumped almost 20 degrees on some bodies of water in the past week.  And with the increased sunlight the weeds are starting to emerge.  Find the green ones and you'll find fish.

That's it kids.  Everything that was good last weekend in still a go for this weekend.  Take different types of live and fake baits out there cuz you never know when their taste buds will change. The crappie bite is hot, big female walleyes starting to feed and the bass somewhere in the spawning stage.  Yeah!  Also, seeing a lot more jumbo perch coming over the side of the boat by those greening weeds.  Oh, and Musky are shallow and feeding. So get out there with friends and family and make some memories.
Hey, the shop is set up for summer right now.  Folks come in frequently and tell us our selection is second to none!  And they are correct.  If you can't make it in you can always order from our website, at www.deweycatchemandhow.com and we'll ship your order to you or hold for you until you get here.  We add new items there all the time.  Blackfish gear is 20% off right now.

Right now for live bait we have Jumbo Crawlers, Small crawlers, Panfish Worms, Wax worms, spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads, Dace, Blacktails, Redtails, Walleye Suckers, Medium and Large Musky Suckers, Jumbo Leeches, Panfish Leeches, M/L Mix and L/J Mix Leeches

Our normal weekly hours are:
Monday thru Thursday from 5am to 7pm
Friday from 5am 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.

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 6/1/23

Such a wonderful Memorial Weekend!  Mother Nature showed great compassion by giving us a Memorial Weekend with not so much as even a threat of rain.  Warm weather, lots of sun, good fishing.  Not a thing to complain about…almost!  The mosquitos are horrendous!  We need Dragonflies!  Any place with no wind, shade, vegetation made me feel like King Kong on the Empire State Building (only I didn’t have my beautiful wife in one hand, needed both to swat the skeeters!).  Enough whining…It’s tough to rank which species of fish bit the best over the weekend, we had so many great reports.
 
Crappie:  Excellent (OFF THE CHART!) – While water temps shot through the 50’s into 60’s (and some bays low 70’s with sun and not wind) not as much bedding fish being observed as staging fish in 3-7’ of water.  Casting small (1/32 oz and smaller) jigs of plastic or hair and good ol’ float and minnows had lots of anglers reporting limits of Crappies.   Probably the best holiday Crappie fishing weekend we’ve had.
 
Smallmouth Bass:  Excellent –Smallies bedding on most lakes with anglers reporting days of over 100 fish per boat from both staging and bedding fish.   Technique?  Our choice!  Tubes, Ned rigs, top-water, suspending twitchbaits.  Rising water temps had fish on fire, lots of action and of course lots of fun!   Remember, Catch and Release only!
 
Walleye:  Very Good – Despite the fact weed growth is still behind on most lakes (but catching up), keep in mind most lakes still had ice on them the first couple days of May.   Most stomach contents of filleted Walleye still containing mostly larvae of midge and mayflies.  The full on weed bite is just beginning.  That being said, leeches have been the ticket for a lot of the best catches.  Of note, guide Greg Bohn had a three day stretch of three 30”+ and over Walleyes on three different lakes-he’s not telling, but from his purchase history here, he’s probably using chubs, both black and redtails (when available), just guessing.
 
Northern Pike:  Very Good – Find standing weeds and you’ll probably find Pike.  Swimbaits, spinnerbaits and jig and suckers have been hot.   Lots of action and good fish into the low 30’s.
 
Largemouth Bass:  Very Good – Staging in the warm shallows.  Shallow running square billed crankbaits, 3 1/2“ swimbaits and flukes have been getting hammered.  Don’t be surprised that if water temps crest and hold into the 70’s on some lakes that Largemouth won’t start bedding soon.
 
Bluegill:  Very Good – Not bedding, but staging in the shallows.  Fly anglers using small poppers and dry flies as well as “normal” anglers using tiny tubes, worms, leeches or thunderbugs scoring very well in 2-4’ shallows.  Look for cover such as wood or flooded saplings.
 
Yellow Perch:  Very Good-Good – Not as much attention from the panfish crowd as most are targeting Crappies and Gills.  But Perch cruising the newly greening weeds in 4-8’ taking medium leeches, medium fatheads and thunderbugs on small jigs or under slip-floats.
 
Musky:  Good-Very Good – With only three days of the season in, some good reports from anglers boating Musky using smaller bucktails (think Smity’s Wizards, Bucher 500’s) and smaller twitchbaits.  Lots of fish being seen, but not hitting in shallows as fish paired up to spawn.  Top reported fish here was Charlie Scott’s 45”.
 
With highs in the low to mid-80’s forecasted for the remainder of the week, expect more of the same on fishing with certain species (Walleye, Bass and Musky) only expecting to get better.  Great time to be out on the water, just don’t forget the bug spray!

Went out with Scott today and the walleyes were biting almost as well as the mosquitos. We just used slip bobbers and leeches and it didn't take very long. Also caught a 20 inch smallmouth. 

You know, sometimes it's not complicated.  Here's where to find the fish.  Find the warmest water in the lake and that's where they are.  And if there are green weeds there, all the better. Period. 

Now, are they biting or what to use to get them to bite, there's your quandary.  And the answer to what to use is just like bums, everybody has one.  In my last 4 times out with friends and clients (I didn't need to separate those) it was important to have different ammunition to shoot at the fish because it was different each day and time period.  But everything worked at one time or another.  And when I say everything I mean crawlers, leeches, minnows and big and small plastics and crankbaits.  I always start out with everybody on the boat using something different and whoever starts to catch more fish we switch over to that. And as you know, I like light jigs.  1/32 oz is plenty as long as you can still feel the jig on the end of your line.  If it's too windy I'll go to a 1/16th oz presentation.  It surprises a lot of fishermen but it works.

That's it kids.  This is going to be a super weekend with the crappie bite hot, big female walleyes starting to feed and the bass somewhere in the spawning stage.  Yeah!  Also, seeing a lot more jumbo perch coming over the side of the boat, too.  Oh, and Musky are shallow and feeding. So get out there with friends and family (notice I separated those) and make some memories.

Be safe and have a great Memorial Day weekend.  Please don't forget what it's all about.

(This still works) Ok, a little secret that not many know about or take advantage of.  Get your firetiger rapalas out and hit the rocky shoreline flats early evening into darkness for a chance at a big mama walleye getting ready for the spawn.  Do it.

Hey, the shop is set up for summer right now.  Folks come in frequently and tell us our selection is second to none!  And they are correct.  If you can't make it in you can always order from our website, at www.deweycatchemandhow.com and we'll ship your order to you or hold for you until you get here.  We add new items there all the time.  Blackfish gear is 20% off right now.

Right now for live bait we have Jumbo Crawlers, Small crawlers, Panfish Worms, Wax worms, spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads, Dace, Blacktails, Walleye Suckers, Medium and Large Musky Suckers, Jumbo Leeches, Panfish Leeches, M/L Mix and L/J Mix Leeches

Our normal weekly hours are:
Monday thru Thursday from 5am to 7pm
Friday from 5am 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.

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

Thursday 5/25/23

Gang:

While driving through the Oneida County country side, I came upon foldable bumpboard laying on the highway. I am not able to get on here all the time, so will provide my cell number (715.892.6926) and you can text me a description, I'd be happy to return it. If I am unable to find the rightful owner, I will make it a donation to a student competing for one of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association (WIFA) High School fishing teams.

Musky Ben

The effects of a late ice out are still being felt by anglers.  While water temps are moving in the right direction (overall), weed growth is still way behind.  This lack of vegetation is frustrating anglers looking for the typical post spawn spring bite.  Action is still being had.  Cold mornings have pushed the best bites to afternoons as warming water seems to bring in the best catches.
 
Crappie:  Good-Very Good – Moving into shallows to warm, not bedding yet.  Long cast with small minnows or Mini-Mites below small floats.   Calm shores receiving the most sun (usually North) are seeing Crappies pile up in 1-3’ of water.
 
Largemouth Bass:  Good-Very Good – Afternoon action best as waters warm in shallows.  Shallow running stick baits/twitch baits, as well as smaller spinner baits, beetle spins and 3” swim baits.  Largemouth over 18” with a pair of 20”+ reported by anglers pitching x-raps along black bottom bays.
 
Walleye:  Good – Heavily feeding on mayfly larvae in the mud as the lack of new vegetation in the shallows has been holding most Walleyes out.  Slip-bobbers with medium leeches in 12-16’ have been best.   Fatheads, Walleye suckers on 1/8 oz jigs around rocky points also producing, but not as steadily as the mud.
 
Northern Pike:  Good – The lack of weeds has been a problem, but any patches of broad leaf cabbage have been good for action on swim baits and smaller spinners (#3 Mepps).   Jig and chubs or suckers also producing.
 
Yellow Perch:  Good – Shallow bays in 4-6’.  Use medium fats under floats on 1/32 oz jigs to catch post spawn Perch ready to feed.
 
Smallmouth Bass:  Good –Catch and Release only!!  First drops from shore lines with rock/gravel using X-Raps, Husky Jerks and Keitech swim baits.  Fish staging prior to moving up to spawn.
 
Bluegill:  Good-Fair – Staging in shallows to warm up.  Small leeches or worms in 1-4’ of water.
 
The forecast for the week has some cool night time temps followed by warming afternoons.  Lots of sunshine should spur weed growth and minnow/insect hatches.   Action in the shallows should get better.  Looking forward to a good holiday weekend.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a lake or two that has a decent crappie population in the Elcho / Pelican Lake area? Not looking for secret spots, just a starting point (lake) for panfish. Will be up in about a week.
Thanks for any help. 

Hitting the midway of May already.  While the season is only ten days old, it’s been a good start for Walleye anglers and picking up for those interested in other species.
 
Water temperatures are moving up gradually following opening week’s warm up.  Most lakes in the low to mid 50’s on average with some larger lakes in upper 40’s and a couple smaller, dark lakes and flowages touching upper 50’s to low 60’s. 
 
Largemouth Bass:  Very Good – Find shallows with wood and Bass actively hitting Wacky Worms and Flukes!  Lots of numbers, not as much size.  Great Action!
 
Crappie:  Good-Very Good – Reports of fish warming in shallows (3-5’) but spooky.  Long cast with Rocket Bobbers and tiny minnows on #10 Aberdeen hooks with no weight to entice bites.
 
Walleye:  Good-Very Good – On larger lakes, tail end of spawn over gravel beds at dark on minnow baits (Husky Jerks, Rattlin Rouges) or along gravel breaks with jigs and black chubs.   The drop in activity on what was a great opening weekend most likely due to post spawn hangover.  That bite is coming as shallows warm, leeches and insects emerge, minnows and fry return and move into shallows and Walleye follow!  Good weed action to come, look for fresh greens.
 
Northern Pike:  Good – Cruising shallow of 3-6’.  Key on any green vegetation.  1/16 oz weedless jigs with guards and baited with red sided Dace.  Three-inch twisters or 4” Flukes worked slowly through existing cabbage.
 
Yellow Perch:  Good – Not targeted, but nice, post spawn Perch to 12” over weekend cruising shallows.  Big Perch with slack bellies taking jig and minnow combos meant for Walleyes in 3-6’ weeds/wood.
 
Smallmouth Bass:  Good – Not a lot targeted, but large fish to 21” (Catch & Release only).   Mostly in shallows by anglers targeting Walleyes or LMB!
 
Bluegill:  Fair – Few reports, but starting to gather in shallows for warmth!
 
Brown Trout:  Excellent – Brown Trout??  Excellent??   Yes, excellent, I caught one without trying, first ever, 21 ½”.  Fought like the devil.  Gotta have a trout stamp.  Doubt I’ll ever see another!  Excellent!
 
Weather looks fairly stable for the week.  Maybe some rain Thur/Fri.  Drop during this time, but nice gradual warm up to follow.   New Moon this weekend, good time.

As we were cruising across the lake last night to a top secret crappie spot we couldn't help but enjoy the fact that we weren't wearing any coats and we didn't have any augers with us.  Yeah!!  It looks like we finally outlasted winter.  The forecast down the line is looking fabulous.  On Sunday water temps were 48-53 and last night they were 55-66.  But that is surface temp.  It will take a little while for those temps to dig to the bottom.  With those temps and the forecast I'm hoping for a nice normal spawning period this year for all species.

The walleye we found so far have been in the shallow rocks and gravel.  We haven't found too many leakers as the females are still hard and the males aren't messing up our floors.  But they've been coming over the side of the boat in droves.  It's been a great bite.  One of my guide buddies put 105 in the boat last Saturday while another did 75 on the same day but different bodies of water.  Each body of water you hit will probably hold walleyes in a different place.  Look for them and once you find them it hasn't been to hard to make them bite.

Crappies have been on fire, too.  Most seem to be very tight to cover.  And I mean if you're not casting within 1 foot of the cover you ain't getting them.  Most places we found them they were extremely shallow or very close to the first break.  Pretty much any crappie bait will lure them into biting but when accuracy is a must, you need to go to the hook, minnow and bobber.Largemouth are shallower, too.  They are banging pretty much whatever you throw at them but paddletails seem to be the best.  Those tickletails are great baits to throw at them as well as the 360 search baits.

Northerns are a blast this time of year.  There are so many places you can go right now and catch dozens of them.  Guys who pickle them are filling their buckets.  Spinners, live chubs, plastic grubs all work well.

We haven't gone after smallies, bluegills or perch yet so the regular advice goes here.  Green weed edges and slow presentations.

Ok, a little secret that not many know about or take advantage of.  Get your firetiger rapalas out and hit the rocky shoreline flats early evening into darkness for a chance at a big mama walleye getting ready for the spawn.  Do it.

We have the following for live bait right now: Minnows: Crappie, Regular fats, XL Fats (Tuffys), Dace, Muds, Blacktail chubs, Walleye suckers, Northern bait, Leeches (small to jumbo) , Wax worms, panfish worms, Jumbo and regular nightcrawlers, spikes

Hey, the shop is set up for summer right now.  A few finishing touches being executed but I would say we have 90 percent of the stuff up.  Folks come in frequently and tell us our selection is second to none!  And they are correct.  If you can't make it in you can always order from our website, at www.deweycatchemandhow.com and we'll ship your order to you or hold for you until you get here.  Blackfish gear is 20% off right now.

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.

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

Jeff Bolander, owner of Dewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guide Post at www.DeweyCatchemAndHow.com
Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DeweyCatchemAndHow
Jeff Bolander - Thursday 5/11/23
Dewey Catchem and How Guide Service(715) 892-2751

It Happened!!!
 
We had an opener!  2023 Walleye opener and it was a good one! With ice still at a few landings, even opening morning, plenty of opportunities to launch and get out on the water. 
 
Walleye:  - Excellent to Very Good – With the late ice out, Walleyes were ready to spawn.   Anglers who headed out early in the morning (pre-dawn) reported great action shallow in 2-3’ of water.  As morning progressed, Walleyes moved out to 5-8’ depths, and deeper, on many lakes to ready for the next evening’s spawn.   Rip N Raps, Rattle Traps, Husky Jerks and Rattlin Rouges from shore for the “midnight” crowd.  Big girls to 28” reported.  For daytime, 1/16 oz Jacks Weedless jigs and Invasion jigs tipped with Tuffy minnows (redtails and dace not available) were the ticket for “second shift”.  Lots of action, lots of keepers and lots of released slot and big females!  With water temps ranging 38 degrees (Trout) to 52 degrees (Willow) lots of opportunity for similar action and some great post-spawn action to come.
 
Crappie:  Very Good – Not much attention paid to this weekend, but for the few who did, good reports.   Finding the warmest water on the lake, with standing weeds in 4-8’.  Crappies and Largemouth Bass staging in the warmest water (usually 2-3 degrees above rest of lake).   These Crappies are skittish.   Small, heavy floats for long cast so you don’t spook fish.  Try using no weight.  Let tail hooked minnows swim naturally to attract bites.
 
Northern Pike:  Good – Not targeted much, but some incidentals by anglers jigging for Walleyes.
 
Yellow Perch:  Good to Fair – Most by accident.  Those that have been are ripe with spawn as they will be next in line.
 
Largemouth Bass:  Fair – Rarely targeted, but anglers reporting some catches while working soft bottom bays for Walleyes.
 
Smallmouth Bass:  Fair – Ditto as in Largemouth, yet on rocks instead of soft bottoms.
 
Increasingly warming temps will accelerate the Walleye spawn this week.  Once spawn bite dies down, look for Eyes to move to weeks to feed up, should be good for next couple weeks.  Crappies, Gills and Bass will continue to “herd” up where the warmest water can be found.   Lots of anglers out for the opener, but pressure will lessen as the week goes on.