It has been another really good week for fishing in the central Wisconsin area. Water temperatures are in the upper 60’s to low 70”s and the action has been very good for all species.
Walleyes continue to be very active early and late in the day. We have been finding most of our fish by working a jig and minnow or a jig and crawler combination in submerged structure.
If you are looking for action the panfish bite has been outstanding. Big Bluegills and slab crappies are beginning to stack up in and around deep structure in 8 to 12 feet of water, even deeper in some instances. We are working weedless jigs tipped with either a piece of crawler, a small minnow, or at times tipped with plastics to get these fish out of the structure. Slow and meticulous vertical jigging right in the structure will pull these fish out, but don’t try horizontal casting or all you’re going to do is lose tackle.
For you guys chasing big fish, now is the time to get geared up. The best musky fishing of the year is going to start to kick in and the big fish are going to come out and eat. You should be thinking about switching gears and upgrading lures to larger bucktails, and jerkbaits along with some hefty rubber baits like Bulldawgs, Medusa’s and Big Joes. Run these baits at a slower pace than you have been the past few months and get ready for some arm wrenching strikes!
The 2016 bear season starts next week and things are looking pretty good for our hunters. We are seeing quite a few good bears coming in to our sets and if things progress accordingly we should have a great season. I would like to discuss one thing though. For you guys that are just starting to bait….
Don’t look for other guy’s previously set up and established baiting locations and decide that you are going to go in the woods a little further and set up. Find your own spots! These are locations that these guys have found and have been working for in some cases months maybe years and it is not right for you to move in one week before season and take over. I know it is not illegal but it is very unsportsmanlike and just plain rude. It can also create some very heated arguments in the woods and in most cases ending up in no-one being successful in that area.
Have a great week,
Phil Schweik
Hooksetters Guide Service
Phone: 715-693-5843
