Latest On Wisconsin Outdoors Columns
5-17-2012
John Luthens is fast becoming one of my favorite outdoor writers. Of course, I could say that about 20 of my friends out there in the fields of Wisconsin, but Luthens has this easy style that lets you live vicariously through him if you maybe are restricted to a desk until the weekend. He also teaches us some things while he’s entertaining with his written word. This week, find John’s story and photos under “Inland Fishing” as he talks about angling from the boat launches of Lake Winnebago…without a boat.
From the same neck of the woods, read bait shop owner and expert angler John Faucher under “Fishing Reports”. If you like the famous Wolf River whitebass run, and you’re into incredible catfishing at the same time, you will want to take note of what Faucher has to say. It’s time.
We’re looking for your fishing and hunting reports and photos, guides and outdoor businesses, so that we can cast the spotlight on your Wisconsin county and let our readers know why they should visit. Many reports and stories are already coming in each week, and we will include your contact information so our readers (and your tourists) can find their way to your backyard to cast a line, cradle a shotgun, and spend some cash.
A fishing report with photos that came in yesterday from Kenny Wallock on the Stevens Point Flowage reminded me that I had spent a day in 2011 with the guide and Point business owner and sportsman Bob Jakusz to write a story like none other that I had witnessed before. We’re linking to “Buried Treasure Revealed” under “Inland Fishing” because it shows the extent two fishing nuts (sorry boys…two enthusiastic anglers) will go to in order to figure out their home water and catch more fish.
When the New Page Mill announced a river drawdown in 2008 to repair a deteriorating sea wall, Wallock and Jakusz set out to capture forever the structure secrets of the flowage that ultimately would mean capturing a rare opportunity to know where the fish would be holding when the river rose again. Unlike the masses that looked forward simply to enjoying the historic unveiling of the river bottom, these two prepared maps, cameras, GPS, a lion’s share of planning and ingenuity and ultimately…a helicopter to earn a unique advantage when the river became the river again.
If you do choose to read that column, and Wallock’s fishing report from this week on the river, know too that we have a lot of other new material submitted in the past days posted on “Inland Fishing” or “Fishing Reports” from some of Wisconsin’s top notch guides. Phil Schweik brings a barrage of crappie and walleye photos from the Wisconsin River near Wausau, with his usual tips and tactics on putting the fish in your own boat. John Carlson tells us that panfish action has never been better in the Phillips area of Price County. The fish are big and hungry.
You’ll get to know Guide Jerkbait Hartigan as he brings us regular reports from the Turtle Flambeau Flowage in Iron County and you should hopefully already know Dave Duwe as he keeps his finger on the weekly fishing pulse of Delavan and Lake Geneva in the far south, Wayne Morgenthaler in Richland Center, Kurt Justice from the Minocqua Area, Roger LaPenter, Jim Hudson and Aron Kastern in Ashland, Jeff Winter in Boulder Junction, and Dave Hraychuck from Polk County. Extensive reports as usual from Hayward and Rice Lake and other areas are on our docket. Like I said, our spotlight is ready for you too.
This just in over the OWO wires (that’s newspaper talk…I think or it used to be). What does a bear guide do in the offseason, before his baiting responsibilities kick in for 25 hunters annually coming north to Washburn in Bayfield County? Check out “Upland Game” to see what OWO Bear Expert Mike Foss did with his wife Lori in southwest Wisconsin.
We have more shooting competition for you this week posted under “Firearms”, and we post as much information as possible under “Outdoor News”, including the weekly DNR reports and announcements and news from a slew of outdoor organizations that know we’re here and send us material routinely
Our plan is to grow our website until each and every page from fishing to hunting and trapping is full and changing each and every week. Growing On Wisconsin Outdoors both online and in print, has been a very gratifying endeavor indeed. Thanks for telling us so often that you like our writers. I do too. Their work and your comments are appreciated.
Right now, I have a turkey tag for Zone 3, season 6, burning a hole in my pocket. I’m heading to Winnebago County despite the weather more suited to a boat and bluegills. The last tag, for season 4, kept burning a hole in my pocket until I was out of time and never did get out. That will not happen again. I don’t have $10 to burn, and I do need a turkey in the fryer.
See you next week. Thanks for visiting.
Dick Ellis