Gary Engberg Outdoors

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).

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).

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.
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