July 28, 2003
Wow, fishing still continues to be good!!! The muskie fishing has been spotty to great depending on when you can get out. The best fishing has been after a few days of stable weather and a storm approaching. This pattern has produced lots of muskies over the last few weeks, multiple muskie days are common when the conditions are good. I know with the new moon phases upon us and more storms in the forecast I will be taking advantage of the prime fishing conditions. Look for the muskies to be still suspending in deeper water. Finding the bait fish is your first step, then picking the best lure to match what bait your fishing around. For example if your trolling through schools of crappies then use a white/black color, if its schools of bluegills then try fire tiger, crawfish, greens and yellow colored baits. Perch patterns is a good choice also. Keep your baits just above the muskies for best results. Work with the other trollers, we all have to share the lake. If you run boards, keep them close, don't run them out too far. The muskies are not spooked by boat noise, it natural to them during the summer months.
Water temps are still holding in the low to mid 70's. This is a prime time to take advantage of the high metabolism of the muskies. Multiple muskie days are not uncommon when conditions are perfect. Last night I was out for some after dark muskie action and hooked into a nice 41-inch suspended muskie. She ate a white/black crappie colored jointed Believer trolled through suspended bait fish. This fish hit my Believer at 10:45pm on Sunday night. I always try to fish Sunday night because of all the boat traffic all weekend seems to slow the fishing down during the day time. Night fishing is the key to catching the fish that will not cooperate during the daylight hours. For years I have fished Sunday nights with great success, by dark you will have the whole lake to yourself. Sunday the 27th was no different, I was the only muskie fishermen trolling once it got dark. Night fishing is not as easy as you might think, keep a well organized boat. A good head light is a must when night fishing, a spot light is also very helpful. Once you tried night fishing and caught a fish or two in the dark you will see why I like it so much.
The bass and walleyes are still active. Lots of bass action from the weeds and deeper water points. The walleyes are everywhere from the narrows to suspending over deeper water. Most of the action I have had is from fish hitting smaller crank baits while fishing the flats off Rocky Point and the west end. Slip bobbers or tightlining will produce the most fish when you find them. Some major schools of panfish are still hanging around the west end, most of the fish are working the edges of deeper water close to the condo's or Walks Island. Some isolated schools have been found in the Waukesha Beach area, the north shore and outside the narrows. A good locator is essential for finding these schooling panfish. Once you find them its easy to catch them. Remember don't use big globs of bait, keep it small and watch for the light biters.
Fishing in general is still very good, watch the weather and plan your outing when the conditions are in your favor. Remember kids are our future, take your kids out when you can. I had the pleasure of getting two more kids their first muskies this past week, seeing the joy and excitement on their faces was worth a 1000 words. Please pass on the tradition of fishing when you can. Good luck to all and I will see you on the water!!!
July 21, 2003
The muskie fishing continues to be good for the trollers who put their time in. Casting has continued to produce some fish for those who are willing to work the weedlines and deep water. Water temperatures are dipping into the lower 70's with the storms that are blowing through. The best action is from the people willing to change with the weather. Going out each day and doing the same thing will produce some times but the angler that is willing to change his/her technique to where the fish are will get slimed more often than not. Strong storms will push the fish deeper and changing the line lengths is required to put your baits in their strike zone. Let your electronics tell you where to run your baits. You want to fish just above the muskies and not under them.
The average size of the muskies has gone up but the numbers have gone down some. I have been lucky enough to put numerous muskies in my boat last week. Most of them are in the lower 40's and one was a very nice 47-incher. Monday night I got out with a father and his son, he told me he wanted to get his son hooked on muskie fishing. We got out at 5pm and worked the deeper water of the north shore, about a hour after trolling I had a rip and quickly handed the rod to Dave, he worked the fish until his arms were tired and the muskie was weak enough for me to get a net under her. I told Dave that this was a fish that does not come often, a 47-inch muskie is something people dream of catching. Yes most people hold the bar at 50-inches but anything over 45-inches is truly a big fish. Dave is going to have a hard time catching a muskie bigger than his first, great job Dave on your first muskie and first release.
The morning bite has been slower than the afternoon bite. I did get out Tuesday morning and managed to get a 39-incher just outside the narrows by Rocky Point. I was working on some new baits and presentations to see if I could better my morning outings. With the changing weather patterns and drop in water temperatures keep a open mind when setting out to catch fish. Remember that strong storms will push the fish deeper, they will also go on a feed before the approaching storms. Don't take a chance with the lightning, be safe. These storms will pass quickly most of the time, take shelter when lightning is close.
The walleye bite and bass bite is still going strong. Most nights we can boat at least one or two of these bonus fish while fishing for muskies. I have heard of one bass going 22-inches and the walleyes can go 27-inches is you get one of the bigger ones. Most of the action is in the narrows or close to it. The west end has been a steady producer of bass and walleyes for those willing to put their time in. Work the deeper water for the bigger fish and the flats outside the weedlines for numbers.
Most of the fast panfish action is now in the deeper water. Work the bigger flats off Rocky Point and outside of the narrows for bluegills and deeper water for the crappies. The west end also is producing some nice catches of panfish. The schools of panfish will move around from day to day with the changing wind direction. Look for them on your electronics and fish them with a slip bobber set-up or tight line method(hook and sinker over the boat). Panfish can be tough to catch some times, keep you set-ups light and pay attention. Panfish can be light biters at this time.
With summer here so is the dog days of summer fishing, plan your outings when you got weather changes coming or moon phases in your favor. If you don't believe in the lunar tables its time you started. I can tell you lots of stories of fish going bonkers for no other reason than a moon rise or moon set. Remember weather rules and lunar effect is a close second. Good luck to all and see you on the water!!!
July 14, 2003
This past week fishing has been hit or miss with the storms rolling through day after day. The muskies seemed to go deeper with each storm that rolled through. The morning bite for muskies has slowed some of the mornings but very good other mornings. The evening hours is still the most productive time to fish muskies and walleyes. The changing winds have spread the floating weeds all over the lake, this makes trolling/casting very hard. The last two hours before dark and a couple hour after dark have been the best fishing.
Last night (Monday night) I was out with my brother, the first fish was caught by Tom on a crank, a 42-inch muskie just before dark. Sticking with it after dark I boated a nice 44-inch muskie off the north shore. Both fish came from deeper water points that had wind blowing on them. I did have one other fish on but as it came to the surface it started to roll and thrash, next thing I knew the bait was free and the muskie was gone, that's fishing, sometimes they win, but not often. The night bite is now in full swing, those who put their time in will get the rewards.
Night fishing is not as easy as day time fishing, you need to have a well organized boat and plenty of light when you need it. Trolling or casting are both good choices for fishing after dark. Work spinnerbaits/bucktails or crank baits in areas that have wind on them, this seems to stack up the fish in these areas. The daytime bite on the weedlines has slowed in the past week or two but I know of a 43 inch muskie that was caught on a bucktail casting and a 36 incher was caught on a white spinner bait casting the weedlines last week. Fishing the weedlines will always produce fish for those who are willing to put their time in. Remember to use the wind and the weather to your advantage, fish the best spots at the best times and you will increase your catch.
Muskie fishing during the late morning hours and throughout the day has been the best trolling deeper water, most of the bigger muskies have moved out to 25ft of water or deeper. Trolling bigger cranks is the best way to get to them. I had a client catch a 37 1/2-inch muskie last week at 9:30am fishing suspending muskies just off the break line. I put two other muskies in the boat midmorning last week using downriggers to get my baits to them. This is a very effective method to get your baits to the fish but catching muskies that deep is hard on the fish.
If you catch a muskie in water deeper than 16ft, please keep them in the water at all times, these fish are extremely fragile at this time of the year. Handle your catch with care. Keep the fight and release time as short as you can, this will give the fish a good chance to survive. I don't like to catch muskies using this method but its a very productive when they go deep.
Look for baitfish schools in deep water and troll the area around them to find the muskies, remember suspended muskies will move around so you have to look for them each day. Wind, clouds and even rain are your best friend when trolling for muskies, don't let the weather get you down. Thunderstorms and lightning will move the muskies and walleyes deeper, this is the time when I take a day off if possible. The best bite has been after a few consistent days of stable weather and wind, this seems to get the fish and bait stacked up in certain areas. Look for weather changes and get out before it happens, the best times is hours before a storm. Take last night for example two muskies boated and one lost in three hours, Tom and I fished the hours just before a strong storm rolled in around midnight.
Fishing for walleyes is still very good on the flats outside of the weedlines to the breaks. Trolling small cranks or spinner rigs have taken lots of walleyes. The Rocky Point area has produced the most fish, the Walks Island, West End and condo's area is loaded with fish. I had a camera with me looking at the larger schools of fish, I could not believe the numbers of panfish in this area. Crappies, bluegills and perch are stacked up in 16 to 25 ft of water. These fish move around some but have stuck to the area for the last three weeks. Look for the schools on your locator and set up just outside of them.
The bass fishing is still great, most of the bass are caught on the weedlines and rocky areas. I have taken bass on muskie baits every time out, most of these bass are just legal or bigger. The bass we are catching are suspending just under the bait fish schools in deeper water. With the bass everywhere from the weeds to suspending its sometimes hard to target them with consistently.
Fishing on Pewaukee Lake has been very good for the last two weeks, see my web site for some recent pictures I will put up. Get out and enjoy some of the hot action it has to offer. If your after muskies, northerns, walleyes, bass or panfish, its all here. Take some time out of your busy schedule to take your kids fishing. This is the time of year for everyone to enjoy the water, respect the other boaters and we can all have a great time on the lake. I will see you on the water, good luck to all!!!
July 7, 2003
The fishing is still as hot as the weather. The muskies have been very active as they move to deeper cooler water. The migration from the weeds to suspending is now going on. Some muskies are still working the weed lines and roaming the flats just out side of the weeds. Some of the muskies are suspending in the deeper water off the breaks already. These fish are just roaming open water hanging 20 to 30ft down in cooler water. As the panfish start working their way out to deeper water so will most of the muskies.
The trolling bite has started to get better with fish taken from 12ft to 30ft. Working the schooling bait fish is your best bet. Crank baits like Slammers Deep Divers, Depth Raiders, Bagleys, Ernies and other cankbaits will work. Casting crank baits will still produce muskies even in deep water, look for bait schools that are in the top 12ft of water and rip the baits through the schools. The muskies are hitting large and small baits. Some people are catching them on 10 inch Jakes and 10 inch Believers in deep water and others are working small cranks on the flats with success.
I had the pleasure of putting lots muskies in my boat this past week. Two clients caught 3 fish in one hour on a afternoon outing. Last week I put 5 muskie in my boat in one day. The muskie sizes last week were from 34 to 43 1/2 inches, also caught were bass(large and smallmouth), walleyes, one was a nice 27 inch walleye and some nice northerns. The biggest pike was a 33 inch taken from deep water one morning caught by a clients son. I know of three pike over 38 inches that were CPRed this past week.
Please do not put your catch in the boat after you net it, keep it in the net while you do you work on the fish. Take it out for pictures or measurements only then return it to the water. The muskies will take some time to release at this time of year, when they can keep upright with out turning on their sides they are ok to go. Never release a fish that keeps rolling on its belly, if needed sometimes you may need to put the fish in your livewell with the pump on to get the oxygen back into the fish, then release her when she is ok. Sometimes you will need to cool the fish down in the livewell to help her. I friend of mine caught a 44 inch fish and she was hard to release, another boat pulled up and offered assistance with ice, after a short livewell cool down she was ok to release.
Remember after you cool a fish down add water to the livewell to bring the water temps back to normal before you release the fish. Both guys are extremely experienced fishermen and still it took some time to get the fish to be release ready. With water temps high, don't take a chance with your fish, get them to the boat as quick as possible and return them as quickly as you can. Treat them extra carefully and catch them again sometime. A fish taken from deep water and released is like us running a 100 yard dash then catching your breath in a steam room. It just takes a little longer in the heat.
Walleyes are still hitting good with legals caught by those who are willing to sort through some shorties. The narrows, Rocky point, Walks Island, The Condos, Waukesha Beach and the west end weedline producing the best. Working the dropoffs has been slow but will start to pick up. Trolling the flats from the weedlines to the drop offs is a good bet for those who like to troll. Working slop bobbers and small jigs will produce the fastest action. The Bass are still hitting very good and are still working the weeds. Look for the bigger Bass to start hanging out in deeper water. I have caught them casting the weedlines for muskies with crank baits.
The crappies are schooling in 30ft or water and deeper. The north shore by the condo's and east has the biggest schools. The Rocky Point area just outside of the narrows is stacking up with panfish ready to start suspending. This area will produce everything at this time of year. Try working a small jig or a small hook/split shot with a small chunk of bait. This will catch you walleyes, bass, perch, crappies, bluegills, etc. Work the 12ft to 18 ft of water just outside of the narrows. For more info please call one of Smokey's Bait Shops, Culvers Bait shop or Dick Smiths Barn.