Perch & first ice (what?): Chicago fishing

Hey Dale, Big bass continue to be the story on area lakes. Even a snow storm didn’t slow the bite. Key was slowly dragging the jig on the bottom and twitching it momentarily in open pockets. I switched up the trailer and went to a four inch Berkley chigger craw for a bigger profile and added scent. Attached are few nice ones. It was worth getting covered in snow. TTYL – Ken Husker O’Malley Huskeroutdoors Waterworks fishing team

(Head): Walleye and musky hitting; all in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin’s Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau). Windy weather and rain has kept us from fishing as much as we would have liked to this past week, but we did manage to get out and enjoy some time on the water. Water temperatures are in the low 40’s but with the temperatures dipping down into the low teens, don’t be surprised if some of the local central Wisconsin lakes start forming ice. Most of our fishing has been concentrated around walleyes and muskies this past week. We found the walleyes in 6 to 12 feet of water holding in areas that we normally catch them once the lakes have frozen over. These are typical wintering areas associated with deeper water retreats and an ample supply of forage fish for food. The muskies have been holding in non-current areas off the Wisconsin River system and in the backwater areas as well as a number of fish holding on main lake points and wind-blown shorelines. Our best success has come from dragging suckers very slowly (0.2 to 0.4 mph) behind the boat. On most days we are using quick set rigs under a slip bobber and setting live suckers down 4 to 8 feet. We are also running a couple of lines out with the suckers on quick set rigs with no bobber at all so the sucker can swim freely just like it normally would. Along with the frostier weather coming up and if you are susceptible to cold temperatures, stop by your local sporting goods store and pick up a heated vest. These are great and they will eliminate the cold with heater coils that work down your back and chest area to keep you toasty warm.

Dale, Water temperatures really started crashing over the weekend. We also have some moderate swelling in some sections from last week’s rains and the river is high throughout the system. Now looking a head to later in week with the melt and threat of rain, we could see some flooding. I don’t think we ever had a flood this late in the year before. Keeping my fingers crossed the rain blows by. Marcus Benesch River Grove, Illinois

A SOUTHERN PART OF EVERGREEN LAKE – AROUND DEER ISLAND and ALL OF SIX-MILE CREEK BAY IS CLOSED TO GAS MOTORS from Oct. 15th through JAN. 1st to allow resting areas for migratory waterfowl. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO STILL RUN A TROLLING MOTOR IN THESE AREAS ONLY.

SPRING LAKE (South & North) –* THIS AREA WILL BE CLOSED TO BOAT FISHING in Hunting Area ON OCT. 17th with Last Day to Boat Fish being Oct. 16th – with BANK FISHING ALLOWED ONLY AFTER 1pm–AREAS THAT REMAIN OPEN TO BOATS ARE NORTH OF MAPLE ISLAND with ramp at north end at the Sky Ranch Road launch and IN PIKE HOLE with carry in boats – SANGCHRIS LAKE –* THE WEST and EAST ARMS OF LAKE and Small AREA NEAR DAM ARE CLOSED DURING WATERFOWL SEASON to boat traffic effective Oct. 14th (last day to boat fish will be Oct. 13th) through Jan. 31, 2016 (during this time fishing boat traffic is permitted in the center hot arm only). ANDERSON LAKE – – – THIS AREA IS CLOSED TO BOAT FISHING in Main Lake from Oct. 16th through Dec. 22nd during waterfowl season with bank fishing Only allowed. BANNER MARSH – ** THIS AREA WILL CLOSE TO BOAT FISHING Oct. 14th (last day to boat fish will be Oct. 13th) –AND BANK FISHING ONLY ALLOWED AFTER 1PM but NO FISHING ALLOWED in EAST POINT ACCESS AREA, which is CLOSED TO ALL FISHING to provide a GOOSE REFUGE AREA during season till Feb. 1st – – PRAIRIE LAKE in Jim Edgar/ Panther Creek State F&W Area – – Lake is CLOSED to Fishing from Nov. 1st – Jan. 15th until After 12:01 PM on Wednesdays and Saturday. CLINTON LAKE – REMEMBER an easterly area of Clinton Lake between the DeWitt (CH14) and the 48 bridges is CLOSED FROM OCT. 10th through MARCH 31st to protect fish and wildlife… NEWTON LAKE – As written in the fishing regs booklet : ** The cold arm of Newton Lake shall be Closed daily from one-half hour before sunrise until 1:00 pm to all fishing and boat traffic except for legal waterfowl hunters during waterfowl season commencing with regular duck season through the close of the Canada goose and regular duck season. * For here – Regular South Waterfowl Season: Nov. 14 – Jan. 31

Dale, The Fox river is way up & not really fishable for a while. I did watch the seagulls having a feast though in the boils below a dam picking up shad. Once the river goes down in about a week or so it should be in the primetime for walleye. John

Minocqua Area Fishing Report 11/24/15 Its gun deer season, so little going on over the water, but a few diehards still venturing out. Muskie: Good. Fewer anglers and a little less action, but fish still being caught – mostly on suckers. Last day to fish Musky is Nov 30th, so some time left. Crappies: Good. Gets the nod over Walleyes as good numbers and big fish (14 plus inches) reported along deep gravel / mud transition areas and drowned wood. Walleye: Fair to Good. A few anglers picking up deep water fish. A return to the shallows is showing up as the lakes get closer to ice up. Temps in the low single digits Sunday closed up the pond behind the shop and added ice to some bays and small lakes. Lows in the 20’s with highs in the low 30’s won’t lose ice, but won’t make much very quick. A very few options by this weekend for ice fishing – better by the following weekend. Kurt Justice Kurt’s Island Sport Shop

(Head): Musky, walleyes, and crappies putting on a good bite, with perch fair to good ; all in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area. Water temps in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area are in the low 40s and continuing to drop as cold weather moves in. MUSKY: Use 14-18 suckers and drag them along deep weed or break edges (10-18 feet of water). Also, many musky hunters are missing the opportunity to cast some big jerkbaits while dragging suckers. Some good hits are had by doing this, and will up your percentage of success. Remember to always do a figure 8 as the bait nears your boat. Feeding windows are iffy and are lake dependent – -water temps have a lot to do with it. All day bite and the action is good. WALLEYE: The walleyes are still locating over mudflats in 15-30 feet of water. They’re tight to bottom. Fish the holes or depressions in the mudflats for your best change of getting hits. Use a big redtail chub or an XL fathead on a 1/8th ounce or ¼ ounce (if it’s windy) jig. All day bite and the action is good. CRAPPIES: Suspending on mid lake basins in 20 feet of water. Use a jig and a minnow. Plastics are not working that well right now. Fish mid-morning to mid-afternoon for best results. All day bite and the action is good. PERCH: Mixed in wit hthe walleyes over mudflats in 15-30 feet of water. The perch are tight to bottom. Use a smaller minnow or a crawler on a jig. All day action and the bite is fair to good.