Central Wisconsin Outdoor Report 3-13-13
Plenty of remaining ice on local waters is boosting our late ice fishing season.
Andy Hoppa & Andy Teller with the groups catch from one day.
The crappies bite remains steady with very good catches from local waters. Most of the fish are now migrating towards their tradition spawning areas and can be caught as they move through these transition areas but there are still plenty of fish holding very deep water. The best way to target migrating crappies is to start with a known crappie location and to drill a lot of holes. Once your holes are drilled use your electronics to pick up and locate migrating fish. Small spoons tipped with waxies or spikes will work as will minnows set on tip downs scattered over the area you are fishing.
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| The boys from Milwaukee with some nice crappies. | Andy Hoppa resting after the group landed nearly 500 crappies. The guys were selective keeping only 10 fish a piece from 10 to 13 inches as seen in the photo. |
The bluegill bite continues to be very good with very nice catches of big gills coming from our area lakes. Most of the action is in 8 to 12 feet of water associated with muck. Yes muck. The bluegills are holding over these muck covered bottom areas looking for small particles of food that are seeping up through the bottom. Tiny jigs tipped with spikes or waxies will tempt the gills into biting.
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| Bob with a couple of 10 inchers. You know the gills are big when you can lip them! | Bob with a 5 gallon pail of sway belly gills. |
Walleyes and northern pike are biting in the backwater areas off the Wisconsin River system which remains open unlike many inland bodies of water at this time of the year. Tip-ups baited up with golden shiners or medium sized suckers will take both species right now. Set tip-ups in 2 to 6 feet of water associated with mud and wood. Target the same areas for both species the only difference is that the pike will be an all day long bite with the afternoon period being the best and the walleyes will bite better during low light periods and after dark.
Have a great week,
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