Central Wisconsin Outdoor Report 4-18-13
As you read this and think about all the great opportunities we have here in Wisconsin please remember all the people in Boston Massachusetts and West Texas as they have had to deal with great loss this past week. I have friends in Boston and after talking with them, personally understand just how hard this past week has been on them as well as other residents in the area. It is far worse than what we here in Wisconsin can imagine. Our thoughts and prayers go out to each and everyone of them!
As for our Central Wisconsin Outdoor Report: Colder than normal temperatures are making for a very late ice fishing season, but open water anglers are finding some nice fish on the Wisconsin River System. Turkey hunters are finding that the birds are still in very large groups.
With the late winter still hanging around fisherman are still able to chase panfish through the ice. With conditions right even for this late in the year good numbers of crappies, perch and bluegills are coming from lakes in North Central Wisconsin. Most of the action is coming from fish found in 4 to 8 feet of water associated with remaining green weeds. Tear drop ice jigs tipped with waxies have been a consistent producer as have Mooska style jigs that have been tipped with a small plastic like the wedge tail or the Impulse Tapeworm.
Open water fishermen are finding walleyes on the move and a pretty good bite going on. Most of the action is coming by working jigs tipped with fathead minnows in eddy type areas with little or no current as these fish are staged to move upriver at different intervals. We are also catching a lot of fish in heavy current areas by running Wolf River Rigs baited up with floating jigs and large fathead minnows set near the bottom.
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| Jan Paul Ferrer with some of the walleyes he caught with me last week. | |
Turkey hunters are having a very good season so far. The birds are numerous and the success rate has been high. The nice thing about this season is that once you find an area with birds it is not just 1 or 2 birds coming in it is usually 30 to 40 plus birds piling into your set-up. With that many birds in your area you can easily choose a nice one. The only problem is getting the one you want separated from the group so you can take a shot without hammering the rest of the flock. Patience is the key.
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| Eric Tufto with his 2013 spring turkey. 22 pounds - two 7 1/2 inch beards and 1 1/4 inch spurs | Close-up of Eric Tufto's double bearded turkey. |
Good Luck,
Phil Schweik
Licensed Wisconsin Hunting & Fishing Guide
Hooksetters Guide Service www.hooksetters.biz
Ruttnut Guide Service www.ruttnut.com
Reed & Hoppe Wildlife Food Plots www.foodplotting.com