June 17th, 2005
The big muskies have showed up in the last two weeks. Two big fish were caught and released on Okauchee Lake the first week of June and I just released a 50 1/2-incher that one of my clients caught while trolling. Steve and his father were ready to cast but his dad had some health issues and it was very windy the night we had scheduled to get out, so we decided to try our luck trolling. We started to work break lines and it looked empty, then worked closer to the weeds to see if the muskies were closer to shore. After a few tries deep and shallow we heard the sweet sound of drag, "fish on" I yelled and the rod was quickly given to my client.
After a good fight the huge fish surfaced by the boat and took off again with the drag screaming. I had a good look at the fish when she came up the first time, I knew it would be close to 50-inches but didn't want to say anything until it was in the net.
As it turned out she went 50 1/2-inches and had a girth of a little over 20-inches. A few quick pictures and she was released to provide the next lucky fisherman with a memory of a lifetime. That's my third 50 plus inch fish in less than a year on Pewaukee Lake and they are all still swimming waiting for you to try your luck against them. Catch and release works, that's why these fish are still in the lake.
Water temps are now in the high 70's and starting to cool back down after the week of hot weather. Look for the action to heat up as the fish start to move around and feed more actively. The weeds are now full of bluegills and bass just finishing up the spawning process. This will be done very quickly as the water warmed up so fast. I would bet that all of the fish are done spawning and are now in the eating mode. Everything should start hitting much better as the summer patterns start to set in. I can't remember the last time we had such quick warm up. The water temps went from the low 60's to the upper 70's in just a little over a week.
Top water baits have been very good early and late in the days. I had some boat side strikes that jump-started a few of my clients. Brian had a fish hit his Top Raider as he worked the figure 8. We had lots of follows to the boat and some great blowups without hookups. This was a week and a half of outstanding action on top water bait. I hope that bite continues because it's one of the best ways to catch muskies. Suicks are still very hot worked down the weed edges. Al was fishing with his wife and me last Saturday and he boated a nice 38-incher on a Suick. Bucktails are still producing over and along the weeds. Crank baits are going to be one of the best producers if the water temps stay in the high 70's.
The weeds are still full of fish. I caught a nice 21-inch walleye and a pike the other day working small crank bait just outside the weeds on a wind swept point. Look for the bass to join in as they start to move out to deeper water. Now is the time you don't know what you have on until it come to the surface. Muskie, walleye, northern, and bass are all catchable in the same areas for a short time. This is the time.
The trolling bite should get going if this heat keeps up. The key to the trolling bite is the migration of the baitfish to deeper water. So far everything is still mostly in the weeds and the action is still shallow.
I have plenty of good guide dates still open in the coming months. For those who like the relaxation of trolling and the excitement of catching a big muskie, bass or walleyes it's your time to get a date booked. Please don't wait till the last minute to plan your outing. I have had lots of calls for booked dates recently and also had people surprised a date was open. Please call in advance so we can get your outing scheduled.
Lets get out and catch some for the big muskies Pewaukee Lake has to offer. I will teach you the correct methods to use and when to use them. Learn the lake and catch fish while you do it. Sounds like a plan, I will see you soon. Good luck to all!!!