Ashland Area Fishing Report for Aug. 13, 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. Smallmouth fishing has been steady with some days better than others, typical for this time of year.
The fish continue to follow their usual summertime patterns, utilizing deep weeds, current areas, rock piles, and structure around Ashland. Sometimes it pays to move around and try different spots if you're not getting any action in a specific location.
“In the past few days with the nice calm weather and humidity, we've seen some pretty cool topwater action out there,” noted fishing guide Luke Kavajecz of Anglers All in Ashland.
“Lots of fish have been eating caddis (flies) off the top,” he added, “which has made for some really fun fly-fishing opportunities. It can be hard to find a school of fish actively feeding off the top, but when you do, it's great action.”
Luke said it always helps to “pay attention to what exactly the fish are keyed in on in terms of food, and match your presentation accordingly.”
There are still good reports of some great lake trout fishing coming in, mostly out into the Apostle Islands and out on the "flats."
“Trollers are doing really well right now out among the islands in a very wide range of depths, from 30 foot of water all the way up to 200 feet,” said Roger LaPenter, longtime Chequamegon Bay area fishing guide and proprietor of Anglers All. “The fish are all over – you just have to find them!”
Along the Ashland shoreline, folks are catching smallmouth bass, northern pike, rock bass, perch and walleye (during the low-light hours). Great places to go are the Xcel Energy “hot pond,” the city boat landing and the Ashland Marina inside the breakwall.
And although it will be a few more weeks yet, it's getting close to the time of year to start looking for Coho salmon starting to come in.
“Fall is a great time of year to pursue the inshore trolling bite, but it's still a little ways out yet,” said Luke.
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!
~ 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.
Big Bay State Park’s Annual Sandcastle Day will be Saturday, Aug. 15, on Madeline Island. Registration is at 9 a.m. with judging at noon. Prizes will be awarded. Nature activities and a picnic are planned from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more details, please go to www.visitashland.com.
Nate Baron of Ashland’s Up North Guide Service said he had a terrific time fishing on Chequamegon Bay Aug. 10 with an old friend, Dennis Leonhardt from River’s Edge Resort, Wisconsin Dells. “I started out guiding at River’s Edge Resort on the Wisconsin River 15 years ago,” Nate recalled. “It was great catching up with Dennis. What a fun day!” (Photo courtesy of Nate Baron)
“Topwater fishing has been great lately,” said Anglers All fishing guide Luke Kavajecz of Ashland, seen here with a nice smallmouth bass to prove it. “If it's cloudy and calm, it can be good all day,” Luke noted. “Otherwise, as the sun starts going down in the evening, the big fish start looking up. This fish came up and gently sipped a #10 caddis pattern off the top.” (Photo courtesy of Luke Kavajecz)