Central Wisconsin Outdoor Report
The fishing in central Wisconsin continues to be very good with consistent action from walleyes, crappies and catfish along with a few non-targeted species being caught along with way. The water temperatures are holding in the mid to upper 70 degree range but some of the area lakes are experiencing a pretty good summer bloom.
The walleye bite has been of the charts with good catches of fish in the 16 to 20 inch range along with some very nice slot fish being caught. Most of the action is coming on jigs tipped with crawlers but we did pick up some of our larger fish by running larger 6 inch sucker minnows on a jig with a stinger hook. We are also picking up a few fish by casting crankbaits like Rapala Shad raps and Rapala Ripping raps and working them very close to the bottom in 4 to 10 FOW.
If it is action you want the crappie bite is going to get our interest. We have been just pounding the crappies on area lakes by running slip bobbers set up with tiny jigs. Our jigs are tipped with either a live minnow or a twister tail. The key here is to try different colored twister tails because you will find that one day they want white and the next day they prefer purple. I usually start out with a variety of colors and let he fish tell me what they want.
For some of you a hard fighting is on the menu and dollar for dollar one of the hardest fighting fish in our area is the catfish. We have been having very good luck catching numbers of catfish below area dams on the Wisconsin River. It is simple, and all you need is some basic fishing tackle like a hook and a couple of sinkers to keep your bait on the bottom. Get yourself some night crawlers or chicken livers, bait up your hook and you’re set. Toss your presentation into the deep area below the dam and wait for the action to start.
In addition to the previously mentioned species we have also been picking up a few nice smallmouth bass and some nice pike. It’s not that we have been intentionally targeting them but they have been showing up as part of our catch while we are fishing for other species like walleyes and crappies. That is one of the nice things about fishing the central Wisconsin area, even though you may be targeting a specific species, you really never know what may end up on the other end of your line!
Have a great week,
Phil Schweik
Hooksetters Guide Service
Web: www.hooklsetters.biz
Phone: 715-693-5843