Northwoods Wisconsin Fishing and Outdoor Report 7-27-2010

gengberg July 27th, 2010

As of July 27, 2010:

Outdoor and Fishing Reports for:
– Eagle River, Wisconsin;
– Central Wisconsin Lakes AND the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin’s Marathon
and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau).Muskie Radke2 small

THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES:

- - Good to excellent bite for northern and largemouths, with good action
for smallies, and a variable fair to good bite for musky, walleye, and
panfish in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.

- - Exceptional catfish and bass bite, with very aggressive musky action,
along with strong panfish hits, and a solid walleye and northern bite; with
black bear hunters getting ready for the upcoming season — all going on in
and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River of Wisconsin’s Marathon and
Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau).Catfish Dick small

WEEKLY OUTDOOR AND FISHING REPORTS, and calendar highlights:

***Eagle River, Wis. (VILAS COUNTY) — as of July 27, 2010:

Good to excellent bite for northern and largemouth, with good action
for smallies, and a variable fair to good bite for musky, walleye, and
panfish in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area

Water temps vary, but generally are in the low to mid 70s in the
Eagle River area.

The northern bite in the Eagle River area ranges from good to excellent.
Fish the weeds in 4 to 12 feet of water, using a spinnerbait, or a jig and a
chub or minnow. Remember the larger northern will generally be deeper, but
will not provide the same level of action that shallower running fish will.

Largemouth in the Eagle River area are putting on a very good bite. Fish
shallower weeds in less than 10 feet of water, related to structure such as
docks. To locate the largemouth throw a spinner or buzz bait, and once
located switch to a Senko or other plastic for maximum action.

Smallmouth bass are skittish, but putting on a good bite in the Eagle River
area. Fish break edges with rocks in 8 to 14 feet of water. It helps if
wood is present. You can use plastics, but most action is coming on
crawlers and leeches. You’re going to have to make long casts and use light
line, because the smallies while hitting well can be very skittish. Be
patient.

There is no real pattern for musky right now in the Eagle River area. While
the bite is variable, patient musky hunters are getting some good numbers,
with a mixed bag on sizes. Some of the musky are suspending in shallower
weeds (fish thick weeds and edges of those weed patches - - particularly
when fishing the Eagle River Chain of lakes) and some around deeper humps.
You have to move around and test the various areas. Successful anglers are
using bucktails, surface baits, and a lot of plastics. Bait size is “middle
of the road.” Not real small, and not real big. Best colors are black,
brown, orange, chartreuse or combinations of same. Action depends on the
weather conditions to a great extent. Peak bite is usually later afternoon
into evening or early morning.

Walleye in the Eagle River area starting to move to rocky points and deeper
humps in 15-25 feet on deeper, clearer lakes, and 8 to 12 feet on most
smaller lakes. There are also some fish relating to weeds, with weed
walleyes usually in the 6 to 12 foot depth range. For the rock and hump
walleyes use a leech or a crawler, and for the weed fish, use a minnow.
Best times to fish are early morning and late afternoon into evening. There
is an all day bite, but heavy boat traffic has inhibited the action during
the day.

The panfish bite in the Eagle River area has been fair to good. The crappie
are suspending, with a few in the weeds. Not a lot of action from suspended
crappies, as they don’t seem to be real hungry when they’re suspending. Use
a little jig, tube or pinkie tipped with a minnow. Bluegills are relating to
deeper weeds, with a few suspending. Use a chunk of crawler or a small
leech for the gills. Perch on stained lakes are in the weeds with the
walleyes in 6-8 feet of water. On the deeper, clearer lakes, the perch are
on the mud flats in 15-25 feet of water. Use a crawler or a minnow.

(Report for the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce based on Creative
Brilliance interviews with Eagle River guides “Muskie Matt” of Wild Eagle
Lodge, “Ranger Rick” Krueger of Guide’s Choice Pro Shop, and Mat Hegy).
Contact info for Eagle River:
* Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail:
info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
* “Muskie Matt”, 715-891-5980; e-mail: rfrgoutdoors@gmail.com
* Mat Hegy, 715-571-7544, e-mail: lunkerclunkerguideservice@yahoo.com
* Guide’s Choice Pro Shop, guide/owner “Ranger Rick” Krueger 715-477-2248
* George Langley, Eagle River Fishing Guides Association, 715-479-8804.
e-mail: fishing@eaglesportscenter.com
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***Some special calendar highlights for Eagle River, Wisconsin:

--Every Sunday, June-August, 2010: Kids Fishing Jamboree with Muskie Matt at
Wild Eagle Lodge, 3:00-5:00 pm. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce;
800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web:
www.eagleriver.org

- -Every Sunday until Aug. 22, 2010: A Night With the Guides. Free fishing
seminars at Guides Choice Pro Shop, 6:00-7:30 pm. Eagle River Chamber of
Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web:
www.eagleriver.org

- -Every Tuesday until Aug.10, 2010: Free kids fishing tips at Hi-Pines
Eagle River Campground, at 6:30 pm. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce;
800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web:
www.eagleriver.org

*****–Fri.-Sun., Aug. 20-22, 2010: National Championship Musky Open.
Vilas County Fairgrounds. One of the highlights of the fishing season that
provides tremendous action and a ton of fun. Family oriented, catch and
release musky tournament held on six different lake families. Eagle River
Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail:
info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org

*****- -Sat.-Sun ., Aug. 28-29, 2010: Second Annual Eagle River Area
Festival of Flavors. This year’s motto: “OPEN MOUTH. . .INSERT WISCONSIN.”
This is a VERY special “happening.” Taste some of the finest food and
beverage found anywhere - -and all “homegrown” Eagle River area, and
Wisconsin based from scratch. The festival showcases Wisconsin products,
local goods, culinary artisans, Wisconsin wineries and cheese producers.
Presented in co-operation with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, and many
sponsoring businesses, restaurants, purveyors and professionals in many
fields related to food and food preparation. Cheeses, meats, sausages,
beers, wines, prepared dishes of every type. Seminars, exhibits, classes,
entertainment, healthy life style exposition and information, exceptional
cookbooks, wonderful souvenirs and gifts galore. Church Basement Supper
competition. The first event in 2009 was an overwhelming success, and the
2010 event is going to be even better and more exciting. Make your plans
now. Cindy Meinholz: 715-479-8467. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce;
800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web:
www.eagleriver.org

– Sat.-Sun., Sept. 18-19, 2010: Paul’s Annual Pro-Am Musky Tournament.
This is the “one for everybody” - -professional and amateur. Lots of fun.
Lots of prizes. EVERYONE is welcome! Eagle River. Eagle River Chamber of
Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web:
www.eagleriver.org
—–
—–

***(Report on Central Wisconsin Lakes AND the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin’s
Marathon and Lincoln Counties near Mosinee and Wausau), — as of July 27,
2010. Editor’s note: The daily bag limit for walleyes on many lakes and the
Wisconsin River in Central Wisconsin (always check the regulations on the
particular water, first) is five (5) fish per day throughout the year while
the daily bag limit for walleye in many areas north of Mosinee and Wausau
may only be two to three fish because of Native American spearing
initiatives and the resulting DNR “quota limits”.
Exceptional catfish and bass bite, with very aggressive musky
action, along with strong panfish hits, and a solid walleye and northern
bite; with black bear hunters getting ready for the upcoming season — all
going on in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River of Wisconsin’s
Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau).

 Water still very high and “rolling hard” in the central Wisconsin
area. You can fish the Wisconsin River, but make sure you know what you’re
doing. Lots of unseen deadheads, debris, and dangerous current areas. Best
suggestion: USE A LICENSED LOCAL GUIDE for safety AND success!

The catfish bite in the central Wisconsin area is exceptional, and anyone
looking for consistent action ­ get in on it now! Any deep pool in the
Wisconsin River system is holding cats and a gob of crawlers dropped into
that pool will most definitely be pounded by an awaiting cat. These feisty
fish will go anywhere from 2 to 30 pounds, and when you hook into one, you
won’t forget it.

The bass bite in the central Wisconsin area is also exceptional right now.
The bass are holding in shoreline wood and can be easily targeted with a jig
and pig combo (jig tipped with a hunk of pork rind) or small spinner bait
tossed right up into the thick stuff.

Muskies in the central Wisconsin area have been very aggressive, but the
bite has been on smaller than normal baits. Bass sized spinner baits and
plastics have been producing good numbers of fish, but some big ones are
still being taken on traditional musky tackle (bucktails, etc.). Fish weeds
in 2 to 6 feet of water, or find muskies holding suspended over deeper
water. Both areas are producing very nicely.

The panfish bite in the central Wisconsin area is going strong with anglers
bringing in mixed bags of crappies, bluegills and perch from local waters.
Use worms on slip bobbers for perch and gills, while traditional crappie
rigs with pinkie jigs suspended below slip bobbers are still taking the
majority of the paper mouths. Look for panfish to be holding along weed
edges in 4 to 8 feet of water, and/or suspended out over deeper water
anywhere from 12 to 18 feet.

Solid walleye action in the central Wisconsin area on long line trolling
early and late in the day. Long line troll crankbaits in 6 to 8 feet of
water along river channel edges. Inside turns and sharp breaks have been
holding the majority of fish.

The northern fishing in the central Wisconsin area is good, with some real
nice fish being taken on spinnerbaits and floating Rapalas twitched over
submergent weedbeds in shallow water.

The 2010 black bear season in the central Wisconsin area is closing in, and
before you know it the season opener will be here. Make sure that you have
your equipment in top notch shape, and don’t forget to keep up your bait
stations. Now is the time to start putting in that extra effort to make
sure that you keep your bears coming in.

—–
—–
(This report based on interview with licensed guide and trapper Phil
Schweik of Hooksetters Fishing & Hunting Guide Service, Mosinee. Wisconsin).

For more information about fishing and hunting in the Central Wisconsin
area:
* Phil Schweik, Hooksetters Fishing & Hunting Guide Services: phone:
715-693-5843; e-mail: info@hooksetters.biz; web: www.hooksetters.biz

Upcoming 2010 Events and Tournaments for Hooksetter’s Fishing & Hunting
Guide Services:

NOTE: All Hooksetter’s fishing tournaments are done for CHARITY! All
proceeds from the tournaments will go to the Kippenberg Creek Kids. Entry
fees provide the cash prize money, and there is 100% payback of entry fees.
Great fishing opportunities, great fun, years of wonderful response. Join
us. Enjoy yourself and help the Kippenberg Creek Kids!

NOTE the dates of upcoming Hooksetter’s charity fishing tournaments in 2010.

Half Moon Lake (Mosinee, Wisconsin):

–Sat., Oct. 9, 2010: Fall Meltdown Fishing Tournament

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Reports compiled, written & distributed by Creative Brilliance. ©2010.
Naomi K. Shapiro or Ray Smith, Creative Brilliance 608-827-6483;
e-mail: cre8vnaomi@gmail.com; cre8vRay@charter.net.

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