Big Chetac

Any updates on ice? has the lake been staked yet?

Headed up next week.  Any fishing reports?

Heading up to Chetac next week. How has the fishing been?

We ended up finding minnows at the marathon gas station in mikana before you get to Birchwood. 

Arrived 6/17 water temp 70deg F. The lake was as clear as I have seen since 1985, could see bottom clearly at 5' with no sign of algae. Weedline at 9 to 10 feet with most grass beds 1 to 2 feet below surface. I caught quite a few lg mouth bass and pike at deep weedline with Rapala type lures and chatterbaits. The pike were ok, not hammer handles, (good pickling size) up to 5 Lbs. Not a panfisherman but saw lots of gills and good perch brought in (I caught several crappies fishing 3 to 4 inch original Rapala style baits). By the time I left (7/1) the main lake was still clear with no sign of algae (temp up to 79 deg) but in small sheltered areas the algae was getting heavy and the weeds had more than reached the surface in large areas of Thomas Bay and most of the Bullpen and in front of Dalen's.

Closest places to get minnows is the  STONE LAKE bait and tackle in the town. Long Lake store 8 miles south of  Stone Lake on hwy B. Otherwise you would have to go to Hayward. Not sure if Trilple A in Spooner has minnows

Just a little heads up if you're coming up to Birchwood Wisconsin area stop and get minnows before you get there. The normal bait store was slow and the new owners are not ever open.

Fished it over Memorial weekend.  Caught a mix of gills and crappie with a few perch.  The sweet spot was 5-8 ft with weeds.  Bluegills and perch were nice with many around 9”.  Caught plenty of crappies and a couple up to 11” but 95% were 9” or less.  Water was 60 in the mornings and 67 at the surface in the afternoons with the sunny sky’s.  Used all plastics.  Kept 2 crappies and 4 gills one night for supper, one crappie still had eggs in it, the rest were males.

Was there the week of May 21st the fishing was phenomenal. We found the bluegills in the reeds and surrounding area up to 6 feet deep. The perch were in 9 to 13 ft of water tight to the new weed growth. Red worms for both of these. Not a big croppie guy but everyone was fishing tight to shore. Did not see any limits at the fish cleaning station. We found the croppie on a rock reef in 8 to 10 ft of water when trying to find the walleyes. Only fish we did not find.   

My buddy and I will be up on the Lake (Northside at North Star) beginning June 17th for a week.  Can anyone tell me how the fishing has been so far?  For the last two summers, it's been slow -- lots of perch,  year before bluegill, but for the past few years crappies have been not biting.  Hoping this year will be crappie year!  Anyhow, any information would be appreciated!