Thursday 7/25/24
First off, on a personal note, a lot of you know my wife Linda. She's the nice one in the marriage and y'all know what a sweety she is. She will be having open heart surgery this Tuesday the 30th. An aortic valve must be replaced cuz it leaks badly. Also, an ascending aorta needs to be repaired because of an aneurysm. And she will likely need a pacemaker. She will be In the hospital for 5 to 10 days at Aspirus in Wausau and is looking at 8-12 weeks for recovery. I hope you and your family can keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Her prognosis is very good.
And now for the not-so-important stuff. We fished a good variety of lakes this past week or two and fishing has been great. Incredibly different each day but plenty of action was had and seems to be continuing. Especially three species: crappie, small mouth and large mouth bass, have been on fire just about everywhere they exist. Big lakes, small lakes, doesn't seem to matter. The number of ways to catch them would fill my bait shop. Oh wait, it does fill the bait shop! For crappie, I use small plastics on 1/32 oz jigs and for the bass, any kind of swimming bait including 1/2 crawlers will do the trick.
Now this doesn't mean that nothing else is biting. Perch is hit and/or miss with some really nice ones being caught on certain days on the flowages. An example of what I mean is there is a spot on the rainbow flowage where there is a little ridge next to some weeds. Definitely on of my honey holes. But one day we pounded the perch there, 10" to 13", and two days later the guys caught 11 big small mouth over the side of the boat in that 2-4# range. I know, you got me...
Bluegills are freaking everywhere, walleye are still mostly on deep humps and northern have seemed to go north for the winter. The northern just don't like this warm water in which most water temps are in the upper 70's except for the gigantic deep clear water lakes.
The leech crop has been very good so far this year. Very positive since the last few years we were wondering if the population would come back. They have. Put a leech on a light jig and it's hard not to catch something, bobber or not.
Please be kind to others on the water and on the road during these busy times. It takes very little effort to do so. And if someone offers to help you load or unload your boat at a landing, don't take it personally. Nobody comes out of the womb knowing how to do it. We're just trying to help you to keep the line moving.
Good luck out there everybody. Catch a big one and make some memories!
------------
I have no more days left open for guiding this summer. I'll spend most of my time looking after Linda. I would be happy to send you a few other guides names if you need some. Give a call and we'll get you out to have some fun.
Right now for live bait we have Jumbo Panfish worms, Crawlers, Small Crawlers, Wax worms, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads, Walleye Suckers, Dave Minnows, Blacktail Chubs, Redtail Chubs, Northern Bait, Medium Musky Suckers, Large Musky Suckers.
As far as leeches go we have to fantastic batch of M/L mix, L/J mix and just Jumbo. As always we sell them by the dozen, 1/4. 1/2 and full pound. Prices are on the website. And since we only deal with trappers and growers, you get the freshest product while our prices are the lowest around, by a lot!
HOURS:
Monday thru Thursday - 5am to 7pm
Friday - 5am to 8pm
Saturday - 5am to 6pm
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
715-358-5130 shop
www.DeweyCatchemAndHow.com
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With surface water temps into the mid-70’s (74-77 degrees), summer patterns settling in. Warm days in the 80’s, and all that brings – lots of boat traffic, it’s best to schedule your fishing early and late in the day (even after dark!).
Largemouth: Very Good – The “heroes” of summer! Evening action on top-water baits such as plastic frogs and spiders, buzz baits and tail baits such as Whopper Ploppers HOT! Early mornings twitchbaits on inside weed lines and great Wacky Worm action throughout the day. Mid-day fish also coming on square bill cranks and chatterbaits over cabbage flats and stump fields. Nice fish to 6#’s reported (with photographic proof) this past week on the above-mentioned baits.
Bluegill: Very Good – Actively chasing small plastics (1-2” twister tails) roaming cabbage flats and coontail tops. Fan casting these areas to locate then coming back with small leeches under small floats effective.
Smallmouth: Good-Very Good – Working rock/gravel humps with drop-shot rigs using 2 ½” Gulp Alive minnows or 3” Wacky Worms, Ned Rigs and tube jigs in 14-22’ of water. Search deep coontail edges also, especially with the drop-shot rigs.
Crappie: Good-Very Good – Work deep weed tops using jig/minnow, 3” Keitech Swing baits or 2” twister tails. Aggressive fish willing to chase and take! On flowages deep wood in 16-20’+ using tubes or jig/minnow combos.
Yellow Perch: Good – Finding in heavy weeds using weedless jigs tipped with minnows or crawlers. Also picking up nice Perch on 3” Wacky Worms and light Ned Rigs. Good Perch in the 9-11” range.
Walleye: Good – Either along deep weed edges or 14-18’ or out on rocky bars of 18-26’. Use redtails or the largest leeches you can find. 1/8-1/4 oz jigs, Lindy Rigs, drop-shotting and slip-bobber rigs. The brighter the day the deeper typically. Mornings and evenings. Lighted slip-floats in 10-14’ weeds at night.
Northern Pike: Good – Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits over cabbage flats. Twitchbaits also effective.
Musky: Good – Early and late. Bucktails and top-water bait time. Work weeds early, then moving out to deeper water as the heat builds. After dark, top-water for the fearless!
Typical summer-time patterns, nice that the weather has finally matched the calendar. Enjoy this time, get out early on the larger lakes – boat traffic building by 9:30-10:00 AM. We anglers need to share, so pick your time on the water wisely.
Largemouth: Very Good – The “heroes” of summer! Evening action on top-water baits such as plastic frogs and spiders, buzz baits and tail baits such as Whopper Ploppers HOT! Early mornings twitchbaits on inside weed lines and great Wacky Worm action throughout the day. Mid-day fish also coming on square bill cranks and chatterbaits over cabbage flats and stump fields. Nice fish to 6#’s reported (with photographic proof) this past week on the above-mentioned baits.
Bluegill: Very Good – Actively chasing small plastics (1-2” twister tails) roaming cabbage flats and coontail tops. Fan casting these areas to locate then coming back with small leeches under small floats effective.
Smallmouth: Good-Very Good – Working rock/gravel humps with drop-shot rigs using 2 ½” Gulp Alive minnows or 3” Wacky Worms, Ned Rigs and tube jigs in 14-22’ of water. Search deep coontail edges also, especially with the drop-shot rigs.
Crappie: Good-Very Good – Work deep weed tops using jig/minnow, 3” Keitech Swing baits or 2” twister tails. Aggressive fish willing to chase and take! On flowages deep wood in 16-20’+ using tubes or jig/minnow combos.
Yellow Perch: Good – Finding in heavy weeds using weedless jigs tipped with minnows or crawlers. Also picking up nice Perch on 3” Wacky Worms and light Ned Rigs. Good Perch in the 9-11” range.
Walleye: Good – Either along deep weed edges or 14-18’ or out on rocky bars of 18-26’. Use redtails or the largest leeches you can find. 1/8-1/4 oz jigs, Lindy Rigs, drop-shotting and slip-bobber rigs. The brighter the day the deeper typically. Mornings and evenings. Lighted slip-floats in 10-14’ weeds at night.
Northern Pike: Good – Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits over cabbage flats. Twitchbaits also effective.
Musky: Good – Early and late. Bucktails and top-water bait time. Work weeds early, then moving out to deeper water as the heat builds. After dark, top-water for the fearless!
Typical summer-time patterns, nice that the weather has finally matched the calendar. Enjoy this time, get out early on the larger lakes – boat traffic building by 9:30-10:00 AM. We anglers need to share, so pick your time on the water wisely.
Friday 7/12/24
I fished the flowages a fair amount the past week or so. The fishing has been fair to excellent depending on the day we were out. Again, for my boat, crawlers are the best bait. I'm not catching many fish with leeches this year. Probably because I don't use slip bobbers much. It seems the pitch and drag is working well for crawlers and leeches are best under the slip bobbers. On the flowages, depth doesn't mean as much as structure does. The weed growth is the best I've ever seen. Normally the weeds don't grow any deeper than 5 or six feet but this year I've found them to the top in 12 feet of water. One day we were popping fish in 2 feet of water and as the sun got higher we kept moving out deeper until we hit 12'. Pretty good. This kept us in that weed bed a lot longer than normal. Northern, Jumbo Perch, Walleye and Pig Smallmouth Bass were all in there.
Some of the bigger deeper lakes we were on were in some stage of bug hatch. We still caught fish but not near as many. On one of the lakes we boated a walleye that had so many bugs in it's mouth you couldn't see it's throat. Now I know you're asking "why didn't you go somewhere else, moron?" Well because that's where the client wanted to go to learn some new spots. The pitch and drag with a half a crawler was still the best bait. We still cuaight some slot walleye and big smallmouths over 4#s.
Nobody has requested the small lakes lately so I don't have much of a personal report there. But I'm sure the weeds are high and the crawlers are working. And I'm sure there are plenty of boats! Lots of great weather in the forecast so take advantage.
The leech crop has been very good so far this year. Very positive since the last few years we were wondering if the population would come back. They have. Put a leech on a light jig and it's hard not to catch something, bobber or not.
Please be kind to others on the water and on the road during these busy times. It takes very little effort to do so. And if someone offers to help you load or unload your boat at a landing, don't take it personally. Nobody comes out of the womb knowing how to do it. We're just trying to help you to keep the line moving.
Good luck out there everybody. Catch a big one and make some memories!
------------
I only have a couple of days left open for guiding this summer. I would be happy to send you a few other guides names if I can't take you. Give a call and we'll get you out to have some fun. NO FISH, NO PAY! All the info is on the website at https://deweycatchemandhow.com/pages/northwoods-fishing-guide-service
Right now for live bait we have Jumbo Panfish worms, Crawlers, Small Crawlers, Wax worms, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads, Walleye Suckers, Dave Minnows, Blacktail Chubs, Northern Bait, Medium Musky Suckers, Large Musky Suckers.
As far as leeches go we have to fantastic batch of M/L mix, L/J mix and just Jumbo. As always we sell them by the dozen, 1/4. 1/2 and full pound. Prices are on the website. And since we only deal with trappers and growers, you get the freshest product while our prices are the lowest around, by a lot!
HOURS:
Monday thru Thursday - 5am to 7pm
Friday - 5am to 8pm
Saturday - 5am to 6pm
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 715-358-5130 shop
www.DeweyCatchemAndHow.com
I fished the flowages a fair amount the past week or so. The fishing has been fair to excellent depending on the day we were out. Again, for my boat, crawlers are the best bait. I'm not catching many fish with leeches this year. Probably because I don't use slip bobbers much. It seems the pitch and drag is working well for crawlers and leeches are best under the slip bobbers. On the flowages, depth doesn't mean as much as structure does. The weed growth is the best I've ever seen. Normally the weeds don't grow any deeper than 5 or six feet but this year I've found them to the top in 12 feet of water. One day we were popping fish in 2 feet of water and as the sun got higher we kept moving out deeper until we hit 12'. Pretty good. This kept us in that weed bed a lot longer than normal. Northern, Jumbo Perch, Walleye and Pig Smallmouth Bass were all in there.
Some of the bigger deeper lakes we were on were in some stage of bug hatch. We still caught fish but not near as many. On one of the lakes we boated a walleye that had so many bugs in it's mouth you couldn't see it's throat. Now I know you're asking "why didn't you go somewhere else, moron?" Well because that's where the client wanted to go to learn some new spots. The pitch and drag with a half a crawler was still the best bait. We still cuaight some slot walleye and big smallmouths over 4#s.
Nobody has requested the small lakes lately so I don't have much of a personal report there. But I'm sure the weeds are high and the crawlers are working. And I'm sure there are plenty of boats! Lots of great weather in the forecast so take advantage.
The leech crop has been very good so far this year. Very positive since the last few years we were wondering if the population would come back. They have. Put a leech on a light jig and it's hard not to catch something, bobber or not.
Please be kind to others on the water and on the road during these busy times. It takes very little effort to do so. And if someone offers to help you load or unload your boat at a landing, don't take it personally. Nobody comes out of the womb knowing how to do it. We're just trying to help you to keep the line moving.
Good luck out there everybody. Catch a big one and make some memories!
------------
I only have a couple of days left open for guiding this summer. I would be happy to send you a few other guides names if I can't take you. Give a call and we'll get you out to have some fun. NO FISH, NO PAY! All the info is on the website at https://deweycatchemandhow.com/pages/northwoods-fishing-guide-service
Right now for live bait we have Jumbo Panfish worms, Crawlers, Small Crawlers, Wax worms, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads, Walleye Suckers, Dave Minnows, Blacktail Chubs, Northern Bait, Medium Musky Suckers, Large Musky Suckers.
As far as leeches go we have to fantastic batch of M/L mix, L/J mix and just Jumbo. As always we sell them by the dozen, 1/4. 1/2 and full pound. Prices are on the website. And since we only deal with trappers and growers, you get the freshest product while our prices are the lowest around, by a lot!
HOURS:
Monday thru Thursday - 5am to 7pm
Friday - 5am to 8pm
Saturday - 5am to 6pm
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 715-358-5130 shop
www.DeweyCatchemAndHow.com
Into the summer we go! Warmer temps, but still too much rain, has water temps in low 70’s and many species setting up into summer patterns.
Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Setting up in heavy cabbage of 8-12’. Using Wacky Worms, Ned rigs and Jig/Sweet Beavers. Top-water action on Whopper Ploppers, Jitter Bugs and Lunkerhunt Spiders hot! Fly rodders using large poppers also scoring.
Crappie: Good – Setting up at tops of narrow leaf cabbage taking small jig spinner combos, 2” plastics on 1/32-1/16 oz jigs and tiny hair jigs (Gapen Freshwater Shrimp). Fish the top 2’ of the 8-12’ cabbage.
Bluegill: Good – Action on small leeches, worms or Mini-Mites under small floats in 6-9’ of broad leaf cabbage. Poppers or dry flys on top towards evenings.
Smallmouth Bass: Good – Drop-shotting and Ned rigging coontail edges of 14-18’. Some rock/gravel humps starting to produce. Twitching #8 or #10 X-Raps and Husky Jerks in minnow patterns also working on Smallies targeting schools of surface feeding bait fish (works on Largemouth also).
Walleye: Good – Best outside weeds edges of 14-20’ where sandgrass can be found. Large to XL leeches, full crawlers under slip-floats or worked on 1/8 oz jigs. Reports of anglers finding Walleye on rock humps of 22-30’ using redtails or crawlers on 1/8-1/4 oz jigs. Drop-shotting live bait also a good way to present bait.
Northern Pike: Good – Mepps spinners, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits over weeds of 6-10’. If slow, work back over using chubs or suckers on weedless jig with weed guard.
Yellow Perch: Good – Not many reports, not many trying. Still nice eaters in heavy cabbage taking ½ crawlers or beavertails in 6-10’.
Musky: Fair-Good – Timing, as always, important! Overcast days, warm evenings and early mornings for best action. Top-water coming into play more over weeds with Fat Bastards and Whopper Ploppers working well. #8 bladed bucktails, especially twin blades, also moving fish.
Lots of traffic on the water through last Saturday (7/6) of the holiday week. Still dealing with passing rain/storms. Lakes settling down and water temps slowly rising (70-72 degrees avg.). With forecast climbing into 80’s for the weekend, expect both Bass species, as well as Musky action to pick up.
Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Setting up in heavy cabbage of 8-12’. Using Wacky Worms, Ned rigs and Jig/Sweet Beavers. Top-water action on Whopper Ploppers, Jitter Bugs and Lunkerhunt Spiders hot! Fly rodders using large poppers also scoring.
Crappie: Good – Setting up at tops of narrow leaf cabbage taking small jig spinner combos, 2” plastics on 1/32-1/16 oz jigs and tiny hair jigs (Gapen Freshwater Shrimp). Fish the top 2’ of the 8-12’ cabbage.
Bluegill: Good – Action on small leeches, worms or Mini-Mites under small floats in 6-9’ of broad leaf cabbage. Poppers or dry flys on top towards evenings.
Smallmouth Bass: Good – Drop-shotting and Ned rigging coontail edges of 14-18’. Some rock/gravel humps starting to produce. Twitching #8 or #10 X-Raps and Husky Jerks in minnow patterns also working on Smallies targeting schools of surface feeding bait fish (works on Largemouth also).
Walleye: Good – Best outside weeds edges of 14-20’ where sandgrass can be found. Large to XL leeches, full crawlers under slip-floats or worked on 1/8 oz jigs. Reports of anglers finding Walleye on rock humps of 22-30’ using redtails or crawlers on 1/8-1/4 oz jigs. Drop-shotting live bait also a good way to present bait.
Northern Pike: Good – Mepps spinners, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits over weeds of 6-10’. If slow, work back over using chubs or suckers on weedless jig with weed guard.
Yellow Perch: Good – Not many reports, not many trying. Still nice eaters in heavy cabbage taking ½ crawlers or beavertails in 6-10’.
Musky: Fair-Good – Timing, as always, important! Overcast days, warm evenings and early mornings for best action. Top-water coming into play more over weeds with Fat Bastards and Whopper Ploppers working well. #8 bladed bucktails, especially twin blades, also moving fish.
Lots of traffic on the water through last Saturday (7/6) of the holiday week. Still dealing with passing rain/storms. Lakes settling down and water temps slowly rising (70-72 degrees avg.). With forecast climbing into 80’s for the weekend, expect both Bass species, as well as Musky action to pick up.
Happy Birthday United States of America!!
No other country enjoys the freedoms we have and the freedom to fish the way we do!
The rain just doesn’t want to go away. What is usually a bright, sunny summer with a rain day here and there, is now a cloudy rainy summer with a chance of sun here and there. We did see a rash of Hexagenia (Mayfly) hatches last week. That hatch takes a toll on Walleye fishing as the Eyes feast up on these easy to catch prey. But that is mostly behind us so things will only improve from here on out.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – With the weather bouncing around (wind, rain, temps), key on top-water action on the warmer afternoons/evenings. Pre-rigged plastic worms, 3-4” swimbaits, square billed cranks over weed tops mid-mornings through mid-afternoons. Wacky worms in cabbage flats through the day. Twitching stickbaits along inside weed edges in early mornings also effective.
Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – With water temps still hovering around 68 degrees, best action coming along deep coontail edges of 14-18’. Drop-shot rigs, tubes and Ned rigs best. Not a lot of rock related reports coming in.
Bluegill: Good-Very Good – Still some signs of bedding colonies on larger lakes. Overall, best using worms or small leeches in 5-9’ of weeds. A few anglers reporting action on poppers in the evenings.
Musky: Good – Bucktails over weeds best. Some top-water action. Most reports still have fish hanging on around shallow (relatively) weeds of 6-12’, could be the late panfish bedding.
Crappie: Good – Starting to get more reports from Crappie anglers finding these fish setting up over tall weeds. Small plastics such as Bobby Garland, Slab Slayers, Kalin’s Crappie Scrubs and Berkley Atomic Teasers scoring well. Work these and small Crappie minnows 1-2’ into weed tops for best action.
Northern Pike: Good – Spinnerbaits, Mepps #3 spinners and chatterbaits over weed flats. With water in upper 60’s/low 70’s live bait with chubs or suckers also very effective.
Walleye: Fair-Good – After shutting off on many lakes due to mayfly hatch, Walleyes starting to find their appetites for leeches and crawlers. Deeper rock humps of 20-24’ using either bait on 1/8-1/4 oz jigs. Coontail edges with sandgrass flats extending out in 14-18’ holding pods of fish also.
Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Not as many reports. Look for warm, flat days to get these fish riles up. Medium fatheads or ½ crawlers under slip-floats in thick cabbage beds of 6-10’ have been holding some nice (8-10”) fish.
Looks like the third and fourth will be nice, weather wise, before rain comes back on Friday and Saturday. Watch for those windows of opportunity and enjoy the freedom to fish.
No other country enjoys the freedoms we have and the freedom to fish the way we do!
The rain just doesn’t want to go away. What is usually a bright, sunny summer with a rain day here and there, is now a cloudy rainy summer with a chance of sun here and there. We did see a rash of Hexagenia (Mayfly) hatches last week. That hatch takes a toll on Walleye fishing as the Eyes feast up on these easy to catch prey. But that is mostly behind us so things will only improve from here on out.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – With the weather bouncing around (wind, rain, temps), key on top-water action on the warmer afternoons/evenings. Pre-rigged plastic worms, 3-4” swimbaits, square billed cranks over weed tops mid-mornings through mid-afternoons. Wacky worms in cabbage flats through the day. Twitching stickbaits along inside weed edges in early mornings also effective.
Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – With water temps still hovering around 68 degrees, best action coming along deep coontail edges of 14-18’. Drop-shot rigs, tubes and Ned rigs best. Not a lot of rock related reports coming in.
Bluegill: Good-Very Good – Still some signs of bedding colonies on larger lakes. Overall, best using worms or small leeches in 5-9’ of weeds. A few anglers reporting action on poppers in the evenings.
Musky: Good – Bucktails over weeds best. Some top-water action. Most reports still have fish hanging on around shallow (relatively) weeds of 6-12’, could be the late panfish bedding.
Crappie: Good – Starting to get more reports from Crappie anglers finding these fish setting up over tall weeds. Small plastics such as Bobby Garland, Slab Slayers, Kalin’s Crappie Scrubs and Berkley Atomic Teasers scoring well. Work these and small Crappie minnows 1-2’ into weed tops for best action.
Northern Pike: Good – Spinnerbaits, Mepps #3 spinners and chatterbaits over weed flats. With water in upper 60’s/low 70’s live bait with chubs or suckers also very effective.
Walleye: Fair-Good – After shutting off on many lakes due to mayfly hatch, Walleyes starting to find their appetites for leeches and crawlers. Deeper rock humps of 20-24’ using either bait on 1/8-1/4 oz jigs. Coontail edges with sandgrass flats extending out in 14-18’ holding pods of fish also.
Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Not as many reports. Look for warm, flat days to get these fish riles up. Medium fatheads or ½ crawlers under slip-floats in thick cabbage beds of 6-10’ have been holding some nice (8-10”) fish.
Looks like the third and fourth will be nice, weather wise, before rain comes back on Friday and Saturday. Watch for those windows of opportunity and enjoy the freedom to fish.
Thursday 6/23/24
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Y'ALL. The real summer of the northwoods begins this weekend with the start of the July 4th week. Car, Van, RV and truck loads of folks will be heading to our chunk of paradise to sample what we are lucky enough to live in every day. I truly believe that if more folks would spend more time outside we would all get along a little better. I like to look at the northwoods as America's front porch. Everybody waves as they go by.
What about the fishing Jeff?!? I know, I know, but hey, I love the northwoods!
Fishing has been pretty good. Not fantastic, but good. We had a normal year this year as far as ice-out goes but our spring has been filled with cold-fronts and rain. So what we thought might be a normal year for all species has turned out a little confusing depending on the lake you on. For example I was on Lake Tomahawk with clients a couple of days ago and we caught lots of fish. But every crappie, bluegill and rock bass we kept and I cleaned had spawn in them. The water temp was only 64 degrees so does that mean they hadn't spawned yet? I'm not sure but i think that's the case. Lake Tom is a large deep lake so I would surmise that other lakes in that category are in the same situation. The bass, large mouth and small mouth, and the walleye were void of spawn.
I'm heading to the flowages over the next few days and I understand that they are doing quite well for panfish. The walleye have slowed a little but searching the channels and wood for crappie and 'gills has been productive. Other smaller lakes have been pretty darn good too for walleye, bass and nice northern pike. The bait used to catch most of these fish has been crawlers. As always, use the lightest jig you can so that you can still feel at the end of your pole. Colors can sometimes make a difference.
The leech crop has been very good so far this year. Very positive since the last few years we were wondering if the population would come back. They have. Put a leech on a light jig and it's hard not to catch something, bobber or not.
Please be kind to others on the water and on the road during these busy times. It takes very little effort to do so. And if someone offers to help you load or unload your boat at a landing, don't take it personally. Nobody comes out of the womb knowing how to do it. We're just trying to help you to keep the line moving.
Good luck out there everybody. Catch a big one and make some memories!
------------
I still have a few openings for guiding this summer. Give a call and we'll get out and have some fun. NO FISH, NO PAY! All the info is on the website at https://deweycatchemandhow.com/pages/northwoods-fishing-guide-service
Right now for live bait we have Jumbo Panfish worms, Crawlers, Small Crawlers, Wax worms, White, Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Pink & Multi-colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads, Walleye Suckers, Dave Minnows, Blacktail Chubs, Northern Bait, Medium Musky Suckers, Large Musky Suckers.
As far as leeches go we have to fantastic batch of M/L mix, L/J mix and just Jumbo. As always we sell them by the dozen, 1/4. 1/2 and full pound. Prices are on the website.
And since we only deal with trappers and growers, you get the freshest product while our prices are the lowest around, by a lot!
HOURS:
Monday thru Thursday - 5am to 7pm
Friday - 5am to 8pm
Saturday - 5am to 6pm
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
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Y'ALL. The real summer of the northwoods begins this weekend with the start of the July 4th week. Car, Van, RV and truck loads of folks will be heading to our chunk of paradise to sample what we are lucky enough to live in every day. I truly believe that if more folks would spend more time outside we would all get along a little better. I like to look at the northwoods as America's front porch. Everybody waves as they go by.
What about the fishing Jeff?!? I know, I know, but hey, I love the northwoods!
Fishing has been pretty good. Not fantastic, but good. We had a normal year this year as far as ice-out goes but our spring has been filled with cold-fronts and rain. So what we thought might be a normal year for all species has turned out a little confusing depending on the lake you on. For example I was on Lake Tomahawk with clients a couple of days ago and we caught lots of fish. But every crappie, bluegill and rock bass we kept and I cleaned had spawn in them. The water temp was only 64 degrees so does that mean they hadn't spawned yet? I'm not sure but i think that's the case. Lake Tom is a large deep lake so I would surmise that other lakes in that category are in the same situation. The bass, large mouth and small mouth, and the walleye were void of spawn.
I'm heading to the flowages over the next few days and I understand that they are doing quite well for panfish. The walleye have slowed a little but searching the channels and wood for crappie and 'gills has been productive. Other smaller lakes have been pretty darn good too for walleye, bass and nice northern pike. The bait used to catch most of these fish has been crawlers. As always, use the lightest jig you can so that you can still feel at the end of your pole. Colors can sometimes make a difference.
The leech crop has been very good so far this year. Very positive since the last few years we were wondering if the population would come back. They have. Put a leech on a light jig and it's hard not to catch something, bobber or not.
Please be kind to others on the water and on the road during these busy times. It takes very little effort to do so. And if someone offers to help you load or unload your boat at a landing, don't take it personally. Nobody comes out of the womb knowing how to do it. We're just trying to help you to keep the line moving.
Good luck out there everybody. Catch a big one and make some memories!
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I still have a few openings for guiding this summer. Give a call and we'll get out and have some fun. NO FISH, NO PAY! All the info is on the website at https://deweycatchemandhow.com/pages/northwoods-fishing-guide-service
Right now for live bait we have Jumbo Panfish worms, Crawlers, Small Crawlers, Wax worms, White, Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow, Pink & Multi-colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads, Walleye Suckers, Dave Minnows, Blacktail Chubs, Northern Bait, Medium Musky Suckers, Large Musky Suckers.
As far as leeches go we have to fantastic batch of M/L mix, L/J mix and just Jumbo. As always we sell them by the dozen, 1/4. 1/2 and full pound. Prices are on the website.
And since we only deal with trappers and growers, you get the freshest product while our prices are the lowest around, by a lot!
HOURS:
Monday thru Thursday - 5am to 7pm
Friday - 5am to 8pm
Saturday - 5am to 6pm
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
Experiencing some sun (6/24), don’t know what to think! Some warmer temps and a small window of dry is nice, though rain once again peppers the forecast (6/27 -6/28) before getting nice for the last two days of June. Fishing has picked up, even while sitting under the full moon period.
Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Working weeds of 8-14’ using Wacky worms, Ned rigs or creature baits. Top-water action HOT on those warm, muggy evenings using Whopper Ploppers and Jitter bugs.
Smallmouth Bass: Very Good – After getting schooled in my own boat by a “trout fisherman” from Minnesota who’d never used a Ned Rig till I gave him one (10-0 before I conceded and tied one on also), all I can report is Ned Rigs for Smallies! Not finding many rock fish yet, almost all along coontail edges of 12-14’!
Musky: Good-Very Good – Bucktails over weeds using #8 double bladed Mepps Flashabou bucktails (very reliable source) and top-water baits (Pacemakers, Tallywackers, Dr. Evils) over same weeds – more advice, quit talking – pay attention! Relatively cool (67-68 degrees) surface temps and spawning Gills may have something to do with shallow bite.
Walleye: Good – Deep weed edges and big leeches. Got schooled again, same day, this time by wife on slip-bobbers while I jigged, 20 to 2! Be a while before she gets in my boat again 😊! Work outside coontail edges of 14-18’. Slowly motor till you find a pod hovering over sandgrass away from standing weeds. Drift leeches 1-2’ off bottom below float, have husband net fish so he has no time to jig himself! More advice? Contact Miss Know-it all!
Bluegills: Good – Setting up beds in shallows. Good time to play with popper over beds when able. Small leeches and tiny tubes under floats also effective. Be kind to these vulnerable fish, those big males are needed to protect nest to ensure good year classes. Be judiciously selective.
Northern Pike: Good – Best overall using spinnerbaits (Boonies-back in stock), and chatterbaits over 6-10’ weeds. Jigging chubs if bite slow. Slip-bobbers with suckers or shiners working, but use wire leader.
Yellow Perch: Fair – Wind and rain last week kept anglers from pursuing Perch. Warm weather should spike activity. So far most in shallow (5-8’) weeds. No sign of deeper sandgrass bite, but should occur as waters warm.
Crappies: Fair – Similar reports as Perch due to weather as far as anglers targeting. Look to tall, narrow leaf cabbage, fan casting small beetle spins, Charlie Bees, Road Runners or Crappie Thumpers to find fish – follow up with Crappie minnows or Mini-Mites under floats.
There have been reports of Mayfly hatches, the Willow had a big one, that has shut down some Walleye bites. Sometimes due to wind it’s hard to tell these hatches are occurring (on lee sides of lakes). Expect more as waters warm.
Largemouth Bass: Very Good – Working weeds of 8-14’ using Wacky worms, Ned rigs or creature baits. Top-water action HOT on those warm, muggy evenings using Whopper Ploppers and Jitter bugs.
Smallmouth Bass: Very Good – After getting schooled in my own boat by a “trout fisherman” from Minnesota who’d never used a Ned Rig till I gave him one (10-0 before I conceded and tied one on also), all I can report is Ned Rigs for Smallies! Not finding many rock fish yet, almost all along coontail edges of 12-14’!
Musky: Good-Very Good – Bucktails over weeds using #8 double bladed Mepps Flashabou bucktails (very reliable source) and top-water baits (Pacemakers, Tallywackers, Dr. Evils) over same weeds – more advice, quit talking – pay attention! Relatively cool (67-68 degrees) surface temps and spawning Gills may have something to do with shallow bite.
Walleye: Good – Deep weed edges and big leeches. Got schooled again, same day, this time by wife on slip-bobbers while I jigged, 20 to 2! Be a while before she gets in my boat again 😊! Work outside coontail edges of 14-18’. Slowly motor till you find a pod hovering over sandgrass away from standing weeds. Drift leeches 1-2’ off bottom below float, have husband net fish so he has no time to jig himself! More advice? Contact Miss Know-it all!
Bluegills: Good – Setting up beds in shallows. Good time to play with popper over beds when able. Small leeches and tiny tubes under floats also effective. Be kind to these vulnerable fish, those big males are needed to protect nest to ensure good year classes. Be judiciously selective.
Northern Pike: Good – Best overall using spinnerbaits (Boonies-back in stock), and chatterbaits over 6-10’ weeds. Jigging chubs if bite slow. Slip-bobbers with suckers or shiners working, but use wire leader.
Yellow Perch: Fair – Wind and rain last week kept anglers from pursuing Perch. Warm weather should spike activity. So far most in shallow (5-8’) weeds. No sign of deeper sandgrass bite, but should occur as waters warm.
Crappies: Fair – Similar reports as Perch due to weather as far as anglers targeting. Look to tall, narrow leaf cabbage, fan casting small beetle spins, Charlie Bees, Road Runners or Crappie Thumpers to find fish – follow up with Crappie minnows or Mini-Mites under floats.
There have been reports of Mayfly hatches, the Willow had a big one, that has shut down some Walleye bites. Sometimes due to wind it’s hard to tell these hatches are occurring (on lee sides of lakes). Expect more as waters warm.
Heading into the first day of summer and it continues to be a wet, windy season so far. Lots of fronts moving through keeping anglers off the water or making it tough to stay with the winds we keep getting. Those able to wet some lines doing well with good reports from gamefish anglers.
Musky: Good-Very Good – Keep in mind the “bite” window for these long fish is sometimes short. Some very nice fish over the past week, topping 50” have been boated. Bucktails over deep weedlines along big drops. Double bladed to push water and rubber baits were key. Muggy, warm evenings have been hot for top-water action. Smaller bucktails such as #500, #700 Buchertails and Wizards doing best in mornings over shallower weeds producing mid-30” to low-40” fish.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – No reports of bedding to our knowledge, yet good reports of nice LMB in 6-10’ weeds on Wacky Worms, jig/creature, pre-rigged worms and top-water baits (evenings). Casting big weed flats with chatterbaits and spinnerbaits also effective.
Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – First move off the beds has been out in 8-14’ weeds. Ned rigs and Wacky Worms best. As waters warm up, we should see more movement out to rock bars.
Walleye: Good – Signs of Mayfly (hexagenia) hatches moving up the water columns over the weekend and now actual reports of hatches reaching the surface has slowed those waters. Yet on waters not ready, nice fish being caught using redtails or full crawlers along coontail edges of 14-16’ on larger lakes. Lots of reports of protected “slot” fish and those larger being caught and released.
Northern Pike: Good – Best on 4-5” swimbaits over cabbage flats of 6-12’. Nice averages of 25-30” fish with two over 36” this past weekend.
Bluegills: Good – Lots of reports of staging Gills, lots of heavy egg laden fish in 6-9’ outside shallow spawning areas. Most on worms with floats on tiny jigs. Wind making small/light presentations tough.
Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Wind biggest factor as fishing pockets in shallow flats tough. Beavertails, medium fatheads or leeches under weighted floats best. No concentrations, but some very respectable (9-11”) fish scattered about.
Crappies: Fair – As with other panfish, tough to sit on productive spots and use viable presentations. Live Crappie minnows or small tubes under weighted floats in 8-14’ narrow leaf cabbage best.
More weather expected through this weekend, coming in small waves. The following week looks to get very summer-like with highs in the upper 70s to mid-80’s should get the summer patterns locked in. Mosquitos have been heavy, especially on the calm, humid spells. Out away from shore, no skeeters – just some flies.
Musky: Good-Very Good – Keep in mind the “bite” window for these long fish is sometimes short. Some very nice fish over the past week, topping 50” have been boated. Bucktails over deep weedlines along big drops. Double bladed to push water and rubber baits were key. Muggy, warm evenings have been hot for top-water action. Smaller bucktails such as #500, #700 Buchertails and Wizards doing best in mornings over shallower weeds producing mid-30” to low-40” fish.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – No reports of bedding to our knowledge, yet good reports of nice LMB in 6-10’ weeds on Wacky Worms, jig/creature, pre-rigged worms and top-water baits (evenings). Casting big weed flats with chatterbaits and spinnerbaits also effective.
Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – First move off the beds has been out in 8-14’ weeds. Ned rigs and Wacky Worms best. As waters warm up, we should see more movement out to rock bars.
Walleye: Good – Signs of Mayfly (hexagenia) hatches moving up the water columns over the weekend and now actual reports of hatches reaching the surface has slowed those waters. Yet on waters not ready, nice fish being caught using redtails or full crawlers along coontail edges of 14-16’ on larger lakes. Lots of reports of protected “slot” fish and those larger being caught and released.
Northern Pike: Good – Best on 4-5” swimbaits over cabbage flats of 6-12’. Nice averages of 25-30” fish with two over 36” this past weekend.
Bluegills: Good – Lots of reports of staging Gills, lots of heavy egg laden fish in 6-9’ outside shallow spawning areas. Most on worms with floats on tiny jigs. Wind making small/light presentations tough.
Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Wind biggest factor as fishing pockets in shallow flats tough. Beavertails, medium fatheads or leeches under weighted floats best. No concentrations, but some very respectable (9-11”) fish scattered about.
Crappies: Fair – As with other panfish, tough to sit on productive spots and use viable presentations. Live Crappie minnows or small tubes under weighted floats in 8-14’ narrow leaf cabbage best.
More weather expected through this weekend, coming in small waves. The following week looks to get very summer-like with highs in the upper 70s to mid-80’s should get the summer patterns locked in. Mosquitos have been heavy, especially on the calm, humid spells. Out away from shore, no skeeters – just some flies.
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