Walleyes Calling….You
Josh Hoier, 8 of New London poses for Wolf River expert John Faucher with his catch of beautiful walleyes.
I took my own blog advice Tuesday. The wolf River and friend John Faucher called me north from southeast Wisconsin to New London to check out the walleye run for myself. Faucher is owner of Johnny’s Little Shop of Bait. He keeps close tabs on the river runs of walleyes and white bass; the comings and goings so to speak of the migrating spring and early summer Winnebago system’s most targeted species.
Johnny had three beautiful eater walleyes in the 20-inch class from the morning bite by the time I arrived at high noon. Not only has the bite been very good, John tells me, but the walleye fishing is expected to remain excellent for another month. Get there. It’s beautiful country and a great Wisconsin vein for very good walleye fishing.
Connect with Johnny’s Little Shop of Bait at 1205 W. Wolf River Avenue, County Highway X, New London, 54961. Connect with him and his great advice at 920-982-4802 or www.thelittleshoppeofbait.com.
Travis Andrus with a big spring Wisconsin River walleye.
If you’re further north, stay in touch with On Wisconsin Outdoors’s columnist and great Wisconsin River guide Phil Schweik and Hooksetters Guide Service. The walleye bite in central Wisconsin is very good right now, Schweik tells us, with not only numbers but some very nice fish as well. Water flows on the river systems are above average which increases the walleyes migration. The water temperatures are in the mid 40 degree range which is about perfect for walleyes to spawn.
“We have been targeting walleyes on the river systems now for about three weeks and the action has been very good,” Schweik said. “At this point a lot of the fish are done spawning and moving in the direction of the post spawn stage. As opposed to seeing a lot of fish below the dams or in the deeper pools, we are catching most of our fish in heavy current; they are headed back downstream towards post spawn locations. Wolf river rigs set with heavy sinkers and brightly colored hooks are working very well right now as are heavy, brightly colored jigs in the 3/8 ounce or larger sizes.”
Schweik also suggests that anglers keeping walleyes for dinner check out Lily River Foods and their breading suggestions and other recipes at: http://lilyriver.com/ . Lily River Foods is also one of On Wisconsin Outdoors newest advertisers after an introduction from Schweik, with their unveiling in our paper coming up in the May-June issue. “They have the best fish breading around,” Schweik said. “I especially like the Cajun breading and it’s good on more than just fish too.”
Hooksetters client Scott Hunger and buddies with a great spring catch of nice eaters.
Schweik should know. Over the 20 years I have known Phil, I don’t believe anyone is a better angler, especially on the Wisconsin River system near Wausau. Keep in touch with him on this website on a weekly basis under Inland Fishing, or at: Hooksetters Guide Service, www.hooksetters.biz. Phone: 715-693-5843.
This weekend for me it’s a trip to Vilas County to open up the cabin, coax water up the sandpoint well, and put the pier in preparation of another season of hunting and fishing. Next week I will be a reporter covering another gobbler hunt in Zone 1 with brother John Ellis and good friend Todd Cook. You know what a huge part of nestling against a tree for a long vigil waiting for Tom in the springtime woods is for me? All of the other great creatures you encounter in addition to gobbling Thomas. These photos were taken last spring in Grant County.
This little guy made friends with Ellis, who was waiting for a meeting with another gobbler.
Shortly after sunrise, this deer seemingly wanted to check out the Ellis turkey ambush.
The Ellis boys pulled this gobbler 400 yards from an irate boss hen last spring to John’s kill in the alfalfa.
Thanks for connecting with On Wisconsin Outdoors. Shoot straight.
Dick Ellis