Gary Engberg Outdoors

gengberg May 22nd, 2009

   This weekend should be a good weekend for fishing most waters in southern and south-central Wisconsin. The Madison Chain of Lakes is producing fish of most species. The big Lake Mendota is providing action for most species, but smallmouth, largemouth, crappies, and northern pike are very active with bluegills just starting to go on their beds.

It’s hard to fish anywhere on Mendota without catching northern pike from 18 to 25 inches. These small fish provide action, but after a while that get to be a pain. Troll with your boat in water 10 to 12 feet deep and you’ll catch a bit of everything. You may hit walleyes, smallmouth, largemouth, and pike. Run Off-Shore planer boards with Rapala Husky Jerks in firetiger, blue/orange, and natural in number 9 and 11.

Smallmouth are anywhere from 5 to 10 feet deep with the largemouth mixed in. Slip floats with a plain hook and a leech or 1/2 a crawler under a Thill float works. Fish the city shoreline from Tenney Park to Spring Harbor. Largemouth are on and under most piers on both Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. Pitch or flip plastics on a heavy jig to the piers and under them for largemouth. You can find them all over the lake. Smallmouth are also on the Brearly Street Bar and Dunns Bar. Cast jigs and leeches, slip floats, and jigs with plastic grubs on and around the bars.

The crappies are still spawning, so they will be shallow and work the piers (wooden ones are best) and any wood or brush you can find. Spring Harbor, University Bay, Dingles Bay are good places to start. The up and down weather has the crappies moving in and out. This big lake also warms up slower than the other Chain Lakes. bluegills are still behind, but should be bedding soon. Most fish are in water less than 10 feet deep. The north end where the Yahara River goes in good for channel cats now.Remember, that there is a world record yellow bass in Lake Mendota.

I’d walleye fish the bars in slow light conditions and troll for them with Mann’s Stretch baits, Shad Raps, and Reef Runners.  you’ll also find them where the smallmouth are.

Lake Wingra will give you a good chance for a muskie, but there will be lots of other boats. Use smaller bucktails and spinners in dark colors. Try Lake Monona for musskiees near the Convention Center, Squaw Bay, Olin Park, and Turville Bay. Fish the south end piers for largemouth and panfish will be in all the bays.

Lake Waubesa has been good in the deeper water of Rockford Heights for walleyes and pike, but they are scattering out. Troll the 20 to 25 foot depths with 4 ccolors of leadcore and # 7 Shad Raps in white, firettiger, and natural. The crappies are done spawning and will be a little deeper now. The bluegills are going to be around Hawg Island and the southernend of the lake. The muskies are all ove, but work the south end. Largemouth are still shallow and near cover and piers.

Lake Wiscconsin will be crowded. But, fish the stumps and points for walleyes with jigs and crawlers or leeches. The crappies are spawned out and deeper. The bluegills should sttart try the Fingers, Sunset Bay, and Okee Bay.

Devils Lake is great for trout. Drift with a plain hook, split shot, and lively fathead minnow. Most fish are over the legal 9 inches with many from 12 to 14 inches. Bluegills and largemouth are also active. The weeds on most lakes are just coming up.

Captain Andy Carraro reports from Kenosha that Lake Michigan is still cold with the water in the mid 40’s. Good fishing starts when the temps are from 48 to 52 degrees. The other day Andy had 11 rainbow trout from 2 to 7 pounds and 8 cohos around 4 pounds. He’s fishing water 130 feet deep, but up high.

Check my website for reports from Central Wisconsin and the Wisconsin River on the Northwoods Fishing/Outdoor Report from Naomi Shapiro. You can find her posting for the week. There also is a Minnesotta report from Naomi for Lake of the Woodds and Sportman’s Loge in Baudette, Minnesota. Sounds like fishing is hot there!

You may also find a fresh report on Lake Winnebago on this website. The Wisconsin River is at a good level with smallmouth very active on most anything. Check with me for any questions. Remember, to release most fish and keep enough for only a meal or two.  Gary

• Fishing , Muskies , Walleye , Conservation , Smallmouth Bass , Panfish , Trout , Salmon , Bass , Wisconsin River , Catfish , Northern Pike , Sauger , Guiding , Tips , Gary's Blog , Largemouth Bass , Equipment , Fishing Reports , Yellow Bass , Crappies , Tactic and Techniques , Great Lakes Fishing , White Bass