Central Wisconsin Outdoor Report 6-6-14

Amy Rasmussen with a nice largemouth bass

Hooksetters Guide Adam Rasmussen with a nice largemouth bass

Hooksetters Guide Adam Rasmussen with a nice smallmouth bass

ander Mountain Firearms manager Eric Marone with his 49 inch musky while fishing with Hooksetters

Gander Mountain Firearms manager with a nice smallmouth bass while fishing with Hooksetters

Musky action is heating up as the water temps rise, and the walleye/panfish bite continues to be very good.

 The action for muskies over the past week has been very good.  We have caught some very nice fish including giant 49 inch fish that was taken by the firearms manger from the Wausau Gander Mountain store (Eric Marone) while fishing with us here at Hooksetters. Most of the action has been from shallow backwater areas off the river and shallow weedy flats in the lake.  So far the muskies have been hitting small bucktails and spinnerbaits, but jerkbaits like Mantas and Suicks are now, getting some attention too.

The walleye activity has been very good with nice catches coming in this past week.  On most of the half day trips we are seeing anywhere from 30 to 60 fish being caught along with a multitude of other species as well like:  Bass, perch, crappies, catfish, and even a few nice pike, which are all present in the Wisconsin River system.  Most of the walleye activity has been by targeting areas along current breaks with structure in 6 to 10 feet of water.  We have been using the weedless Ricky jigs by Rick Jaroch of Baitmaker Tackle  to be able to get in and around the structure and pick off the walleyes without getting our baits hung up.  At his time of the year the weedless jigs are priceless when it comes to working structure.

The panfish bite has been very good and both crappies and bluegills can take credit for that.  The crappies are done spawning and have moved off to traditional summer locations.  They can be caught by fishing for them with a small minnow suspended at the proper depth below a slip bobber.  

 The bluegills are now spawning, and for the most part can be found in very shallow water less than 3 feet deep.  Look for shallow wood and weeds and you will find the gills. Catching them is as easy as 1, 2, 3.  All you need is a small hook suspended about 8 inches to a foot below a bobber and have it baited up with a piece of crawler or a tiny worm.  This combo will do the trick all day long at catching bluegills and even a few perch as they are sometimes mixed in with the gills.

 Anyone looking for bass, now is the time to do it. The action for bass this past week has been absolutely unbelievable with not only great numbers of fish, but some real giants as well.  Most of the activity has been by tossing plastics to submerged timber and rocks but a few fish are hitting topwater baits as well.

 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

Rhonda Schweik with a nice largemouth bass

Another nice musky taken last week by Hooksetters customers

Bill with a nice musky taken last week while fishing with Hooksetters

Bill and his son with a nice walleye that struck a musky bucktail while fishing with Hooksetters

Nice musky from last week caught by Hooksetters clients

Northern pike that grabbed musky bait for Paul Sowka while musky fishing with Hooksetters