As of July 16, 2012.
Outdoor and Fishing Reports (and weekly calendars) for:
* Eagle River, Wisconsin;
* Central Wisconsin Lakes AND the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin’s Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau).
As of July 16, 2012: THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES:
* Good to excellent action for walleye, northern, and panfish, with bass fair to good, and musky fair. All in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.
*Fantastic smallmouth bass bite, strong walleye bite, with very good action for crappie, bluegill and musky, and bear baiting stations doing well; all in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin’s Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau).
WEEKLY OUTDOOR AND FISHING REPORTS, followed by calendar highlights:
***Eagle River, Wis. (VILAS COUNTY) — as of July 16, 2012:
Good to excellent action for walleye, northern, and panfish, with bass fair to good, and musky fair. All in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.
Water temps in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area are hovering in the upper 70s. The Eagle River Chain of 28 lakes (largest freshwater chain of lakes in the world) remains the best choice for consistent action, but for smallmouth bass, anglers should certainly try some of the Eagle River area’s larger, clearer lakes. While anglers are getting fish throughout the day, action peaks around sunrise and sunset for all species — except for panfish, where the bite is good to excellent throughout the day.
Walleye have moved deeper in the Eagle River area. Fish 10-25 feet of water off of break edges or in main lake basins adjacent to break edges. The walleyes will be tight to bottom. Use a jig and a fathead minnow. Good to excellent action, with peaks at sunrise and sunset.
Northern in the Eagle River area are in 10 feet of water or less in and around weeds. Use a Mepps #4 or #5, bass style spinner bait, Rapalas or a Husky Jerk in a minnow or walleye pattern. Good to excellent bite, with peaks early and late in the day. Remember the larger northerns will usually be deeper, albeit the action will be slower.
Panfish (crappies, bluegills and perch) are putting on a very good to excellent all day bite in the Eagle River area. Fish 15 feet of water or less, with the perch tight to bottom, and the crappies and gills suspending up and down the water column. Panfish will either be found in and around weeds or over hardbottom areas without any weeds (it’s day dependent, and anglers should test both areas to see where the panfish are locating on that particular day). Use a small crappie minnow or a chunk of crawler under a slip bobber or small jig.
Largemouth bass in the Eagle River area are locating along shoreline structure in shallower water. Fish heavy weeds, downed wood, brush piles, docks, and lily pads. Use a top running frog or rat, spinner bait, or a Texas Rig with a plastic worm. Action is fair to good, with peaks early and late in the day.
Smallmouth bass in the Eagle River area are in 10-25 feet of water off of break 
edges over hardbottom (sand, gravel, or rocks). Use a jig and a leech, a 3 inch plastic tube, or a 3 inch plastic crawfish. Action is fair to good, with peaks early and late in the day.
Action for musky in the Eagle River area is fair. Fish 10 feet of water or less in or near weeds. Use a small to medium bait- – bucktails, topwaters, or a Bulldawg. Do a regular retrieve, and don’t forget to do a “figure 8″ at all times, when your lure nears the boat. The muskies will bite throughout the day, but best action is near sunrise or sunset.
Editor’s Note: Eagle River, Wisconsin, is the Snowmobile Capital of the World®, Hockey Capital of Wisconsin™, World’s Largest Chain of 28 Lakes (Eagle River Chain O’Lakes named one of the “7 Natural Wonders of Wisconsin” by Travel Wisconsin.com/Wisconsin Department of Tourism); voted “The Best Up-North Town” by readers of Wisconsin Trails Magazine.
(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
***Calendar highlights for Eagle River, Wisconsin:
* High-Pines Campground of Eagle River has announced the opening of its new watermark, the Aqua Zone. There are all kinds of fun and thrills for the entire family. Jumping Pillow; turbo bikes; paddle boats; kayaks. Lots of great snacks available including homemade pizzas, ice cream, beer, fountain drinks and lots of other great munchies. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
* Trees For Tomorrow has a multitude of family, youth, public and nature programs right on its campus in Eagle River. This wondrous venue allows everyone to explore the joys of nature at little or no cost. Contact Trees for Tomorrow for information and program schedule. Phone: 715-479-6456. E-mail:learning@treesfortomorrow.com. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
*The Eagle River Speedway is open for the season. Great fun. Great entertainment. Great racing. Hot laps start at 7:00 pm, with racing starting at 7:30 pm. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
* Eagle River Golf Course. The beautiful Eagle River Golf Course is open from 10 am-6 pm daily. Take advantage of the gorgeous, warm Northwoods weather, the scenic beauty, and get your swing in the groove. Many continuing money saving fun specials throughout the season, tournaments, youth golf season and tournament, new equipment demos, warm, expert, welcoming staff. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
- – Sat., July 21, 2012: 40th Annual Artarama-Riverwalk Art Show and Sale. Riverside Park in Eagle River. Nationally known one-day art and fine draft festival draws top quality artists. Live music, picnic-style food and parking, provided by non-profit organizations. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
- – Thurs.-Sun., Aug. 9-12, 2012: Annual Vilas County Fair, Vilas County Fairgrounds. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
- – Sat., Aug. 11, 2012: Annual Polish Regatta at Pitlik’s Sand Beach Resort (noon, rain or shine). Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
- – Wed., Aug. 15, 2012: 31st Annual Paul Bunyan Fest. Downtown Eagle River. Fun filled family event features chain-saw carving demonstrations, over 75 art-’n-crafts vendors, live music, and a Paul Bunyan Roast Cookoff. Come and enjoy a great beef sandwich with potato salad and corn, along with all the great activities. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
–Fri.-Sun., Aug. 17-19, 2012: 27th Annual National Championship Musky Open. A very exciting family oriented catch-and-release musky tournament held on seven different lake families in the Eagle River area. Great fun for all skill levels. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
–Sat.-Sun., August 25-26, 2012: 4th Annual Festival of Flavors food event, sampling, demonstrations and competitions. This great festival showcases Wisconsin products, local goods and culinary artisans, Wisconsin wineries and cheese producers, plus an expo of the health aspects of food and fitness. 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 16, 2012.
Fantastic smallmouth bass bite, strong walleye bite, with very good action for crappie, bluegill and musky, and bear baiting stations doing well; all in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin’s Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau).
The smallmouth bass fishing in the central Wisconsin area has been fantastic. We are doing very well on smalls running small crankbaits and/or jigs tipped with tube tails in orange or yellow. We are concentrating our efforts on shallow wood and rocks in 3 to 5 feet of water associated with any current.
The strong walleye bite continues in the central Wisconsin area, even as the weather heats up. We have been doing very well on walleyes in 6 to 10 feet of water working jigs tipped with crawlers and leeches along outside weed lines and channel edges.
The crappie action in the central Wisconsin area has been very good and nice catches of slab crappies are happening regularly. We are suspending jigs tipped with small minnows or plastics about 4 to 7 feet down and slowly drifting over 12 to 16 feet of water.
The bluegill bite has been very good in the central Wisconsin area, with a good number of fish starting to show up in their summer holding areas. Most of these bull gills can be taken on a small jig tipped with a piece of crawler that has been dropped into submerged wood in 4 to 8 feet of water.
The bear baiting stations in the central Wisconsin area are doing well, and we are seeing a number of different bears now hitting our locations on any given day. A lot of the activity is still during low light conditions, and at night, but not to worry as, as the season progresses these bruins will start to get the itch to put on the feedbag and start to consume more during daylight hours.
(Central Wisconsin lakes report based on interviews with licensed guide and trapper Phil Schweik and licensed guide Glenn Moberg, 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: pschweik@dwave.net; web: www.hooksetters.biz
Reports compiled, written & distributed by Creative Brilliance. ©2012.
Naomi K. Shapiro or Ray Smith, Creative Brilliance.
e-mail: cre8vnaomi@gmail.com; cre8vRay@charter.net