2008

Sportsman’s Lodge and Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge on the Rainy River and the southern end of Lake of the Woods (Baudette, MN).

On the south end of Lake of the Woods, out of Sportsman’s Lodge, Baudette, MN, the strong walleye bite, including trophies, continues.

This week’s report is short, but VERY “sweet.”

The fishing is spectacular on Lake of the Woods, out of Sportsman’s Lodge. The Lake is settling down as summer begins. The current flow has the walleyes holding in specific areas of 24 to 31 feet of water. Sportsman’s guests are also pulling in good eater sized walleyes with spinners in 12 feet of water at Morris Point. Anchoring and drifting are the methods of choice, with anchoring and jigging a chartreuse/orange jig, bringing in some larger fish.

Most groups of Sportsman’s Lodge guests are catching large numbers of walleye and limiting out within two to three hours on the Lake, then happily play catch-and-release for the rest of the day. One guest caught and released three trophy sized walleyes in two days, while fishing with Sportsman’s guides.

Overall the fishing season has been tremendous, and there’s still the whole summer to enjoy some of the greatest fishing in North America on the south end of Lake of the Woods at Sportsman’s Lodge.

Sportsman’s Lodge provides its guests perfect comfort and safety on its fleet of 27 foot, inboard, fishing charters, which are all equipped with heads and cuddy cabin – -and Sportsman’s believes its guides are the very best anywhere.

(This report based on Creative Brilliance interview with Gregg Hennum, co-owner of Sportsman’s Lodge.)

Fishing Reports compiled and distributed by Creative Brilliance, Copyright © 2008, all rights reserved. These reports may be used and reproduced only by those who receive them directly, or who have received express written permission for their use.

[Image: Courtesy of Flickr user HaarFager]

Wausau / central Wisconsin Area.

Great walleye action, with a phenomenal crappie and bluegill bite, along with bass, white bass and musky hitting hard, in the Wausau /central Wisconsin area.

Warming water temps have brought the fish to the surface.

Walleye fishing in the Wausau / central Wisconsin area is simply great. With the walleyes now set up in their traditional summer holding patterns, trollers are taking full advantage of long lining crankbaits like Rapalas and Thundersticks, along contour breaks in 8 to 12 feet of water. Jig fishing with a minnow is also producing top results by working the deep, submerged wood.

The panfish bite for both crappies and bluegills is phenomenal in the Wausau / central Wisconsin area. Target shallow, downed timber in 2 to 4 feet of water, with either a small minnow or a piece of crawler, suspended below a slip bobber.

Fishing for bass is getting better by the day in the Wausau /central Wisconsin area. Both largemouth and smallmouth are very active in the rapidly warming water temps. The topwater bite has really turned on. Chug Bugs and Top Prop style baits are working best. For the largies work the weeds in shallow, back water bays and for the smallies, work shallow, rocky structure along the shoreline. For either species, work sunken wood thoroughly. You’ll get action.

The white bass in the Wausau / central Wisconsin area have really turned on. Small spinners in white or chartreuse will take white bass all day long. AND, fishing white bass is a great way to introduce a kid to fishing. Non-stop action, and plenty of “fight” in these fish make for a memorable outing.

The musky bite in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area continues to be very good, and some exceptional fish have been caught and released. With water temps now in the 70’s, the top water bite is turning on big time. Right now bucktails and twitch baits are working best.

And remember, that unlike so many lakes further north, that have daily walleye bag limits of two or three fish, the walleye bag limit remains at FIVE (5) fish on most of the waters of the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area.

With such a wealth of opportunities, it’s important for anglers to practice catch-and-release for everything but a few for the frying pan. This simple and mindful conservation will insure that the legendary fishing in the Wausau / central Wisconsin area will continue for generations to come.

(This report for the Wausau /central Wisconsin CVB based on Creative Brilliance interview with guide Phil Schweik of Hooksetters Fishing & Hunting Guide Services, Mosinee).

Fishing Reports compiled and distributed by Creative Brilliance, Copyright © 2008, all rights reserved. These reports may be used and reproduced only by those who receive them directly, or who have received express written permission for their use.

[Image: Courtesy of Flickr user gengberg49]

Eagle River, Wisconsin (VILAS COUNTY).

Very good to excellent action for musky, walleye, northern, smallies, and panfish CONTINUES in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.

“Same old, same old,” for fishing in the Eagle River area, and that’s great! Fishing continues to grade out from “B+” to a solid “A.”

Musky action remains solid in the Eagle River area, with four fish going to around 48 inches, and one coming in at 51 inches (all catch and release). Fish in and around weeds in 10 feet of water or less. No lure is really “shining,” so “empty the tackle box,” and there’ll be action on something. Bait size should range from small to mid-size.

Walleye in the Eagle River area remain in ten feet of water or less. Use a jig and a fathead, with crawlers and leeches starting to work, as well. Mixed sizes, with the biggest running to about 30 inches. Suggestion: With the water temps rising steadily, there should be a mayfly hatch in the Eagle River area, coming around in the near term. When that happens, the walleyes may position themselves over mudflats to feed on the mayflies. Be prepared, and we’ll keep you posted.

Bass season is now open in the Eagle River area, with the smallies most consistent. Fish break edges in 10 to 15 feet of water over hardbottom. Use a crankbait, Rattle Trap, or a jig, tipped with a minnow, leech or crawler.

Northern in the Eagle River area are on a tear. Fish in and around weeds in ten feet of water or less. Use minnow baits, or small spinners. Excellent action for mixed sizes.

All the panfish (crappies, bluegills and perch) are in the same general areas in the Eagle River area. Fish in and around weeds in 10 feet of water or less. Use a crappie minnow, leech or crawler, under a slip bobber, or try a Mini Mite. Good to excellent action, with some sorting, but also some very nice fish being caught.

(Report for the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce based on Creative Brilliance interview with Eagle River guide Mat Hegy of Guides Choice Pro Shop).

Fishing Reports compiled and distributed by Creative Brilliance, Copyright © 2008, all rights reserved. These reports may be used and reproduced only by those who receive them directly, or who have received express written permission for their use.

[Image: Courtesy of Flickr user firehole]