Central Wisconsin Outdoor Report 5/23/14

The 2014 Wisconsin northern zone musky season opens up this weekend and thousands of eager anglers are getting ready to take to the water with one thing on their mind, catching a big musky.  Seeing how we just came through one of the longest and coldest winters on record anglers are going to have to change things up a bit if they are going to be successful.

 Most lakes are way behind with fresh or new green weeds limiting the areas for muskies to hold.  With that said targeting these predators leaves us with few options like rocks and wood.  I would start by looking at the backwater areas in the lake and off the main river channel..  I would target shallow muddy stump filled bays with less than 5 feet of water.  Small bucktails, twitch baits, and small rubber baits are all going to work well under these conditions.  As the day progresses and the water warms up I would then start targeting any rocky areas along the river or in the lake.

The walleye bite has been very good this past week  with some very nice fish being caught.  Most of the fish are in 10 to 16 feet of water holding tight to the bottom. Jigs tipped with fathead minnows or plastics have been taking the majority of the fish as well as running slip bobbers with baits set within a foot of the bottom.

 The crappie bite has been the best I have seen in years.  I cannot remember a year when the bite was this good.  A lot of fish are holding in shallow water in and around traditional spawning grounds.   We have been catching most of the crappies by running a small jig tipped with a tube or minnow (both work very well) below a tiny bobber.  Set the bait about a foot under the surface and cast it in towards the structure or area the crappies are holding.  The action can be fast and furious and these slabs take the bait.

 In addition to the multiple game fish we are catching  we have been seeing quite a few white bass and catfish as well.  Most of these are incidental to walleye and crappie fishing but non-the-less these are some of the strongest, hardest, fighting fish in the area. Don't be fooled by their size either because pound of r pound they will hold their own against any other species.

With Memorial Day weekend here many of us are going to be travelling.  Don't forget to stop in at your local Kwik Trip Store and gas up, and while your at Kwik Trip check out the Fishing Sweepstakes Give-away.   Make sure that you sign up for a chance to win a full day guided fishing trip with Hooksetters.

Have a great week,

Phil Schweik

Licensed Wisconsin Hunting & Fishing Guide

Hooksetters Guide Service  www.hooksetters.biz

Hookset adventures  www.hooksetadventures.com

Ruttnut Guide Service  www.ruttnut.com

Reed & Hoppe Wildlife Food Plots   www.foodplotting.com

A beautiful morning sunrise on the lake

Mack Jenz and Alex Boehm with some nice crappies

Adam Goetch with a big sheepshead

A nice Wisconsin River walleye

Chris Blank with some nice walleyes

Mack Jenz and Alex Boehm with a nice crappie

Bill, Mike, and Bob with some nice slab crappies

Joe and his dad Don with a nice mess of crappies