Ashland Area Fishing Report for Oct. 8, 2015
~ Fishing guides Roger LaPenter and Luke Kavajecz from Anglers All, 715/682-5754, report the following:
This report is about the Ashland side of Chequamegon Bay. Welcome to what one local guide calls “the best time of year!” The smallmouth bass are into their fall feeding patterns, frequenting their usual haunts such as the rock pile and breakwall.
“We've had some lower temps lately, which have started to cool the water down a bit,” said fishing guide Luke Kavajecz of Anglers All in Ashland. (Luke reported that the water temperature around the bay on Oct. 8 was 53 degrees.)
“The smallmouth are getting into their fall spots now and the fishing has been decent,” he said. “Nothing crazy, but the fish are there, like they always are.”
Although the smallmouth bass will stay out in the deeper water, the cool fall weather will be a boon to trout and salmon fishermen. Coho salmon are being caught along the river mouths and there have been fish caught up in the rivers as well.
“Folks are trolling at the head of the bay and casting for coho salmon, brown trout and splake with fairly good success depending on the day,” according to Carolyn Swartz, co-owner of Anglers All, “as well as the Sioux and Onion rivers.” She said the salmon that are being caught are big ones, with reports of cohos up to 8 pounds.
The first good push of fall steelhead came into the Brule River last week. “And there are some big cohos in there right now, too,” agreed Luke.
“Steelhead fishing is getting better on the Brule and with the fall colors in full swing, there's not a finer place to be than on the river in search of fall chrome,” he enthused.
Luke said the musky fishing is heating up, too, especially on the inland rivers. “This is a great time of year for a drift boat trip in search of those toothy critters,” he noted.
“The fall bite will continue until we get some ice, which is hopefully a long ways away as far as I'm concerned,” he added.
“We’re waiting for the water temperatures to cool down before all of the fish, like the walleye, get into their usual fall patterns,” Carolyn said.
“There’s so much to do outside right now, it's hard to pick just one thing,” Luke concluded. “Get out there and enjoy fall!”
For the most complete and up-to-date fishing report, just give them a call at Anglers All and they will gladly keep you informed!
Luke Gilbertson of Ashland poses with the huge, 45-inch muskie he caught Oct. 6 while out fishing with Nate Baron of Up North Guide Service. (Photo courtesy of Nate Baron)
“Fall steelhead on the Brule is a special thing,” noted Anglers All fishing guide Luke Kavajecz of Ashland, seen here holding a real beauty. (Photo courtesy of Luke Kavajecz)
Tony Matjcher of Chicago, Ill., had a great time fishing recently with Nate Baron of Ashland, proprietor of Up North Guide Service. “Now that the fall weather has settled in and the water temps are dropping, the fishing is going to get nothing but better from now to ice-up,” commented Nate. “I had a great day on Chequamegon Bay with Tony! Smallies, muskies, trout, salmon – the options are limitless.” (Photo courtesy of Nate Baron)
~ The Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-284-9484, reports:
Fishing is always a thrilling adventure in the Ashland area! Chequamegon Bay is famous for its world-class smallmouth bass fishing.
Ashland's 18th annual CenturyLink WhistleStop Marathon, Half-Marathon and Festival will be Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10. Don’t miss the hearty Lake Superior Fish Boil & Pasta Feed on Friday evening. On Saturday, Cruisin’ the Corridor 5K and 10K races begin at 8 a.m., the half-marathon gets going at 8:30 a.m., and the full marathon starts at 9 a.m.
The two-day event also includes the 16th Annual WhistleTot "Little Engine That Could" Toddler Run at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Join us in cheering on these adorable pint-sized athletes as they truck down the 100-foot course inside the Bay Area Civic Center. Wooden WhistleStop Whistles will be awarded to all the toddlers taking part in this race open to kids ages 2-4.
Enjoy food, fun and great music at the Post-Race Party starting at 10 a.m. Saturday in the festival tent. Acoustic Relapse will kick off the day’s performances followed by the Northland College and Ashland High School jazz bands. Highlighting the Post-Race Party will be local dynamic trio Defeating the Purpose bringing you their re-energizing music.
Topping off the weekend will be the WhistleStop Blues and Brews Festival Saturday night featuring two spectacular bands, MilkBone and Pop Rocks. Held in a heated, 1,000-person festival tent, Blues & Brews allows you the chance to sample over 50 varieties of microbrews from all over the Midwest, including expertly crafted beers from Ashland’s own award-winning South Shore Brewery. (Must be 21 to attend.)
For additional information, visit www.whistlestopmarathon.com or call the Ashland Area Chamber at 715/682-2500.