Letting the Cat Out of the Bag-O
No walleyes found on Winny
We returned to Winnebago this week with visions of repeating the hot weather performance of 2013 when we murdered the July walleyes drifting and throwing crankbaits. Jim Olsson, Dave Gromowski and I found the hot weather, but that’s about it. If I lied and said we were targeting catfish, well then we had a really good day. But I don’t, and we didn’t, and the cat is officially out of the bago….we caught one 11-inch walleye.
Jim Olsson wasn’t happy with the lack of cooperation from the walleyes, but we took what we could get and that meant lots of catfish.
Winnebago’s white pelicans hung around looking for a meal.
We started on Butte des Morts on a known spot for walleyes. But that is where the cat action started and it didn’t end even when we pulled the boat and launched again on Winnebago hours later. A good seven hours on the water gave us probably 15 catfish and too many sheepshead that at least had us hoping to see a walleye rising from the depths of the big lake. To add insult to the lack of walleye action, even one sheepshead left the trailing nightcrawler offerings and smacked my crankbait. We thought we finally had a walleye. Gromowski also caught a sheepshead that didn’t hear about weight watchers.
Dave Gromowski caught plenty of cats but huge sheepshead like this one weren’t welcome as we targeted walleyes.
At least someone is doing good out there on the Wisconsin waters. One place in particular, fishing remains good out of the port of Algoma, Wisconsin. According to captain and OWO writer Adam Cochart, anglers are finding good king numbers inside 200 feet of water working the top 50 feet of the water column with flashers and flies along with some early morning glow spoon action.
“Deeper out on the lake over 200 feet the steelhead action has been very good,” Cochart said. “Anglers targeting steelhead are fishing the top 30 feet of water using spoons trolled on short lengths of lead core or mono lines trolled with 3/8 ounce weights just below the surface. This action remains strong throughout the day so if you are looking to enjoy the day and add some fish to the cooler search these deeper water areas for leaping steelhead.”
If you are interested in booking a charter contact Captain Adam Cochart at 920-594-0910 or connect with their website at www.baylakecharters.com.
Fishing on Lake Geneva has been the best it’s been in the last five years, according to Captain and OWO columnist Dave Duwe. “The bass, both largemouth and smallmouth are still shallow and available for the catch,” he said. “Fishing on Delavan Lake continues to be outstanding. The bass, walleye and northern are all biting well. This should continue as long as the stable weather continues.”
If you want to see the full Duwe reports from both Geneva and Delavan, connect with “Inland Fishing” on this website. While you’re there, read the reports from throughout Wisconsin submitted weekly by our experts. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe direct at 608-883-2050.
But the good news is that the July-August issue of On Wisconsin Outdoors in now on the street. We placed more than 12,000 papers out there for you by Sunday, and more than 30,000 will be in 265 Kwik Trip stores by probably July 2. Don’t forget, 117 O’Reilly Auto Parts stores throughout Wisconsin will also carry each issue of OWO, as will the Leinenkugel Brewing Company’s Leinie Lodge in Chippewa Falls.
We will blog again after the 4th of July. I will also be participating in the Bob Ellis Row Trolling Classic July 11th out of Presque Isle. Start location and after fishing dinner at Skyview Resort in Presque Isle. For more information and registration, go to www.row-troller.com or call 608-220-0989.
Thanks for connecting with On Wisconsin Outdoors. Shoot straight.
Dick Ellis