June 28, 2008
Lady's start your kicker motors, the slow no wake is now in effect. Below is the new Pewaukee Lake restrictions that will be enforced for a few more weeks. Please keep your wake down and respect the lake residents who are already over stressed due to property damage.
Pewaukee Lake Patrol W240 N3065 Pewaukee Road Pewaukee, WI 53072 262-691-0921 By Order of the Chief of Police (June 26, 2008 1430hrs) EFFECTIVE SATURDAY JULY 28, 2008 12:01am the no-motor ban will be lifted on Pewaukee Lake. BE ADVISED THAT SLOW-NO-WAKE RESTRICTIONS ARE STILL IN PLACE AND WILL REMAIN SO FOR SOME TIME. The slow-no-wake rule will be STRICTLY ENFORCED and lake users are reminded that slow-no-wake is the slowest speed possible to maintain steering. Continued violations or complaints for failure to comply with the restrictions may result in a need to again stop motor traffic. Lake users are requested to be respectful of resident's properties under these high water conditions.
The fishing has started to get much better. Casting is now working all over the lake. Buck tails and top water is working. Twitch baits and crank baits are also catching fish. Work over the weeds early and late in the day, outside the weeds and even some open water mid morning to early afternoon. Watch for the bait and the muskies, walleyes and bass will be close by. Weed edges are key spots for me early afternoons. Clients have had some great action this past week. I had 4 guys in my boat Thursday for a 5pm till 10pm outing and they raised 17 fish and had 3 hit. Just crazy at time but the next day it was slow, just two fish followed in that same area using the same baits as the day before. Remember, these fish don't eat every day. As the water temps get higher they will have too. Get out and enjoy the lake now that we can get around easer. I cast my spots then troll to the next spot, perfect time to brush up on your trolling skills before the trolling bite gets going.
July is already booked up and August is getting very full already, so if your looking to get out and learn the lake, see the hot baits and patterns that put multiple fish in the boat each outing in August I would suggest getting a date locked up asap. The trolling bite will get going in a few weeks, for now enjoy the great casting action while it lasts.
Got to go......the fish are going, see ya out there.
June 23, 2008
Well I just got off the phone with the police and the lake rules are still in effect. Here is the info I was sent.
Pewaukee Lake Patrol W240 N3065 Pewaukee Road Pewaukee, WI 53072 262-691-0921 BY EMERGENCY ORDER OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE Pewaukee Lake is SLOW NO WAKE and NO POWER MOTOR TRAFFIC IS ALLOWED! (Electric motors are allowed) The Pewaukee Lake Patrol will be actively enforcing these restrictions NOTICE June 24, 2008: This order remains in effect. Lake levels have reduced however not to a sufficient level to lift the power motor restriction. Lake users should be advised that water levels and conditions are being monitored on a regular basis. Lake residents who need to move under power to REMOVE their craft from the lake must obtain permission from the Chief of Police prior to doing so. Lake users are advised to proceed with caution as lake levels remain elevated. Debris, yard items, and lack of a defined shoreline, remain a constant hazard. NOTICE TO LAKE RESIDENTS Lake residents who wish to report pier sections or other debris in the lake should contact the Lake Pewaukee Sanitary District (262) 691-4485 to arrange for pick-up.
I am still going to take out this weeks clients using my trolling motor only. The West end has been getting pounded for a week and a half. I had three clients Saturday fishing with me and we caught two muskies, lost three and raised 8 more. The fish were active at times and slow going at other times. Early afternoon was the best for us. The biggest fish we raised was a nice mid 40's muskies that followed in a Slammer twitch bait. The fish that we caught were on crank baits. Buck tails and top water were also good Saturday.
Water temperatures are now in the mid 70's and the summer patterns are starting to fall into place. Look for the slow no wake rule to get put into place this weekend or Monday at the latest. I for one will be glad when I can fish the whole lake again. I hope to have some pictures to share with everyone from this weeks clients. Saturday was the first clients I have taken since the floods and it felt great to get back out and stick some muskies. Canceling was something I had to do because of the launches being closed and out of respect for the lake property owners. I know our cottage was very close to getting flooded inside the house but the lake has gone way down since that. Its time to get the "electric only" lifted and let the fishermen get back to work.
June 16, 2008
This is my first report of June and I wish things were better around Southeastern Wisconsin. The flooding is still at its highest point and the area lakes are still closed. Yes, closed to boat traffic until further notice. I hope to see the chief of police bring back the "slow no wake" rule so we can get back on the water again. As of this week(Monday June 16) the lake is still closed to all boat traffic due to high water, stuff floating all over the lake, electrical hazards, and some contamination issues. With a few days of sun and no rain in the forecast I hope to hear the "Lake closed" will be lifted and we can get back to the "no wake" rules. Down town Pewaukee is still so flooded the carp outnumber the people in the streets. Main street is like a river, water is knee high with water up over the sidewalks all the way to the businesses. Sandbags by the thousands line the streets and store fronts but most are only slowing the water from rushing in. Pewaukee Lake it at it's highest level ever, the beach that once divided the lake and road is now one. Waves from the lake now roll across the beach, sidewalks and street. Snow plows are lined up in the streets to slow the waves from damaging main street shops. More water is running down the streets of Pewaukee than through the dam that once controlled the water level of the lake.
The area lakes are all over a foot high with most about two feet high. Safe travel is slow no wake when we can get back on the water sometime next week with some luck. Piers, trees, benches, lumber, and anything that can float are all over the area lakes. Wind has been the biggest problem because it kicks up the waves and destroys everything. I can only hope that most of the shorelines have not taken too much of a beating. The lake will not be the same this year. Weeds will be higher than normal because they are still growing and will only stop when they reach the surface. Once the water goes down the weeds will be to the top in some areas. One thing for sure is it will be nice to get back on the water for the "Second Opener"of the season. I expect it to be the weekend before the 4th of July at the latest. Hopefully it will be by this coming weekend. I am sure you can expect the "slow no wake" to be in effect for a while to protect peoples property form more damage and to protect boaters from floating objects that usually would not be floating around the lake everywhere.
Water temperatures on the area lakes are now in the high 60's or low 70's depending on which lake or time of day. The East end of Pewaukee is in the low 70's and the West end is in the high 60's. Look for those water temps to settle around the low 70's this week and into next week. The bluegill's are in big time now looking for spawning areas. Largemouth bass are also working spawning areas. The bad thing is most of these areas are peoples yards, gardens, beaches, and shorelines. With a slow drop of water this will work out great for the spawning fish. No one will be there to bother them since the water is so high and boat traffic is not allowed. Look for the second opener to be very good. The weeds will be full of fish and game fish should be in their summer feeding mode. Muskies, walleyes and pike will be active on the outside of the weeds with bass and gills on the inside of the weeds toward shore. That to me spells lots of opportunity for anglers who can put up with the "slow no wake" rules while fishing a quiet lake.
Some look at this short term problem of not getting on the lake every day as "our season is screwed", I look at it as "just wait till I get back out there and take advantage of this non recreational, low boat traffic, no jet ski, no wave runner type of environment on a metro lake. You can look at this two ways. I choose to look at the positives of life, doesn't pay to complain about all the negatives. Life is too short, enjoy it while you can. Be positive, make the most of your time while you can
As for the start of the second season as I call it, well, it might only be a weekend away, two at the most. So get your chores done, take your family to a ball game, go camping, do a home project or something positive with this time off the water. I know I feel the pain and so do all my clients I had to call and cancel this week and put the next weeks clients on alert. Other than a brief high water temperature break I have never had to cancel this many guide jobs. I feel bad but the season is just getting going, lots of fish are still going to visit my boat and clients for pictures. Even some trophy muskies and walleyes for those who are ready to test their skills with me in the months ahead.
Below is the Pewaukee Lake Ordinance in effect now. I will update my site as to what's going on as soon as it changes.
June 13, 2008 PEWAUKEE LAKE EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS Recent and continued rains have caused Pewaukee Lake to exceed the high water mark determined in Chapter 21 (17) of the Pewaukee Lake Ordinances; which states: EMERGENCIES. When the elevation of the lake is in excess of 853.4 above sea level as measured at the Village of Pewaukee dam, no person shall operate a water craft in excess of slow-no-wake in any area of the lake. During any other period of emergency as determined by the Chief, the Chief of the Water Safety Patrol is authorized to impose speed limit restrictions or other reasonable restrictions regarding the use of Pewaukee Lake. Any period of speed limit restrictions shall be no less than 24 hours in duration. Lake Patrol shall post restrictions at all public accesses. Therefore under the authority of the City of Pewaukee Police Chief, as the Chief of the Pewaukee Lake Water Safety Patrol, it is ordered that no motorized vehicles/boats or personal watercraft shall be operated on the lake. This restriction will be in effect until further notice. . Gary Bach Chief of Police Pewaukee Lake Patrol