Report Date: 8/31/10 10:58 AM CST
Patterns seem to be changing. Weather remained fairly warm (hot) this past week pushing surface temps back into the mid 70's, but there have been plenty of signs of weeds starting to die back a little. There is a cool down coming for this weekend with Friday being the coldest then warming back up. The high pressure didn't help this past week, maybe the drop in temps will spur some activity.

Musky: Fair-Good. Best action very early am or late pm. A 51"er was caught this week on a sucker. Most action on surface baits, shallow running jointed cranks/twitch baits up in shallow of 4-8'.

Perch: Fair-Good. Work weeds of 8-10' and around cribs using 1/2 crawler on 1/32 - 1/16 oz jig, casting same jigs with 2" chartruse twister to locate small schools then fish live bait. Nice "eaters" of 8-10'.

Largemouth Bass: Fair-Good. Evenings - early am best this past week. 1/8oz jigs with 4" worms, 3" twisters over/through weeds. Plastic frogs early/late still producing some as are Hula Poppers/Jitterbugs. Plunking plastics (Senkos, Beavers) also producing.

Walleye: Fair. Move to gravel humps occuring. Work 1/8 - 1/4oz jigs tipped with large fats, 1/2 crawler in 18-26' depths.

Bluegill: Fair. Despite an 11"er caught this past week, action is down as fish harder to locate. Flowages producing 9-10" fish in heavy weeds, but a good catch is 6-10 fish.

Crappie: Fair. Work weed edges in 14-18' for fish holding at bases. Use small jigs, minnows.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair. Maybe a temporary hic-up, but fish left many typical rock/gravel humps. Check out sandgrass flats. Use soft shell crayfish (frozen), crawlers or Carolina rig chompers skirted grubs over grass in 18-22'.

Pike: Fair. this species will probably respond well to the cool down coming. Cast 1/4-3/8 oz spinnerbaits over weed flats. Jig/Float chubs in sam 6-10' areas.

Fishing seemed to slow quite a bit, high pressure hurt (maybe it was Mars coming so close to Earth) Make note for 2000 years from now "Mars Bad Fishing". Actually the transition to a more early fall pattern is occuring, things will improve as we get into September.

Field Editor Report by Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
(715) 356-4797
islandsports@verizon.net

Report Date: 8/23/10 3:39 PM CST
Six inches of rain hit the Lakeland area filling most of the lakes and flowages to full and beyond (some lakes like Katherine, Big Muskellunge, Clear will need more). The rising water levels affected the bites on the Flowages and some of the lakes. Once things level off the start of the early fall bites should begin. Water temps dropped and a lot early last week (low 80's to high 60's) but are now rising in to the low to mid 70's. Lakes with traditional algea blooms are seeing lots of greening, while suddenly higher water levels are leaving and but more "water" to fish over weed tops.

Smallmouth Bass: Good. Deep water fish less affected than shallow (LMB). Humps and breaks of 18-34'. Drop shotting 2 1/2" Gulp Minnows, 3" Senkos to well as 1/2 Crawlers on frozed soft shells on 1/8 oz jigs. Smallies at these depths seem to be feeding heavily on small bait fis so small tubes, jigs should work as well.

Largemouth Bass: Good. Slowed from previous week due to cooler weather and rain. Surface bite backed off, but plunking plastic working. Also casting 3" Twister Tails on 1/6-1/8 jig heads also affective.

Yellow Pearch: Good. 1/2 Crawlers, Medium Fats in 8-12' weeds. Soft shell Crayfish (frozen) over 14-22' sandgrass also working.

Musky: Good. Not great action but fish in mid 30 to 40 " range working weed beds. Bucktails best, Jointed Smity Cranks and Surface Lures towrads weeks end.

Bluegill: Fair-Good. Slowed with cool weather early in week. Preling up with warmth.

Northearn Pike: Good to Far. This species actually reached better to cool off. Boonie Bait Spinnerbaits, Johnson Silver Minnows, Daredevels over weed flats.

Crappie: Fair. Return of consistent weather will bring these fish back to 8-12' weeds.

Walleye: Fair. Best on deep lakes. Shallow lakes and flowages were affected by rain

Field Editor Report by Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
(715) 356-4797
islandsports@verizon.net

Report Date: 8/16/10 11:36 AM CST
The heat of the past week pushed the best fishing to either side of the day. Early am or late pm bites could be very good, but windows for action small.

Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good. With exception of mid-day, LMB has remained very good. Top water has been exceptionally strong with Hula Poppers, Jitterbugs and Plastic Frogs very effective twoards dusk. Morning and day light pitch worms wacky style, Boonie Baits early and late over 6-8' weed flats also catching nice bass to 5#'s.

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good. This species loves the heat. Set up on deep rock humps and along deep coontail edges. 1/4 oz tubes, Chomper skirted grubs and drop shotting 3-4" minnoiws best. Early am work inside weededges for cruising fish. Very nice Fish (including Fish to 5#'s) with lots of action from 14-16".

Bluegills: Good-Very Good. Heat has pushed deep water gills out, lots of nice fish (7-1/2 to 9") on larger clear lakes taking 1/2 crawlers on 1/16 oz jigs or below slip floats. Fish suspended 1/2 way down along 12-20' coontail, milfoil edges.

Musky: Good. Stick to evening. Fish surface lures over weed flats of 4-8'. Mid-day fish deep, working cisco schools over deep thermolines. Bulldawgs, Medussas, Triple D's in blue, silver, white.

Yellow Perch: Good. Work weed flats with 1/2 crawler, medium leech. Look for pockets in weeds of 6-10' "dip" baits into weed pockets or fish below floats.

Crappie: Fair-Good. Not good during heat of day, but mid morning and early evening crappies feeding over weed tops. Use small twisters, tubes and minnows.

Northern Pike: Fair. Heat has pushed the better fish out of shallows leaving only little "pickles" behind for better fish, drift suckers, chubs along weed breaks down 12-16'.

Walleye: Fair. Nice catches at dusk after dark on isolated humps sporting sandgrass. Jig full crawler on XL leeches. After dark slip bobber big leeches or whole crawlers below lighted slip-floats. Nice fish of 18-24" average.

Heat ended yesterday (8/15). Water temps will drop. Had surface temps of 80degrees on Fence/83 on Big Crawling Stone thursday. Other reports from smaller lakes had temps as high as 87 degrees!!

Leeches very hard to come by, very limited supply.. Pick them up where you can, fish still love em.

Patterns will be changing this week, we will need a day or two to figure out new patterns.

Field Editor Report by Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
(715) 356-4797
islandsports@verizon.net

Report Date: 8/10/10 7:09 PM CST
Lake Minocqua; Crazy amounts of 10-14" Bass all around the shallow weeds and docks. Wacky worms. Lots of fun for kids. Bigger fish are on the drops in 15-18' of water. Three inch jigging spoons are catching Bass , walleyes, crappies and bigger gills all mixed together

Report Date: 8/10/10 10:05 AM CST
Solid Summer patterns developing as heat keeping lake temps up. As expected, high temps/skies mean best fishing early and late in the day.

Largemouth Bass: Good - Very Good. With exception of new high pressure, bass very active. Wacky style senkos/dingers in weeds of 8-14'. Shaking 4" worms on 1/8 oz jigs and swimming senkos also working for day time anglers. Twoards evening top water tearing up the action. Buzz baits, plastic frogs, hula poppers all producting lots of fish in the 14-17" range with 18-20" fish not uncommon.

Smallmouth Bass: Good - Very Good. Sandgrass flats in 14-22' of water. Lift/drop chomper skirted grubs, Caroline style. Light 1/16 -1/8 oz jig with large leech or whole crawler or soft shell crayfish. Tubes in brown color patterns, also drop shotting 2-1/2" gulp minnows.

Bluegills: Good. Finding nice gills schooling over deep water, along coontail edges or over weed covered humps. Small leeches hard to beat. Count down small jigs or slip float half crawlers 10-12' down over 18-20' edges.

Muskie: Good. Heat bringing back good evening bite. Loud surface lures (pacemakers, Top Raiders, Creepers) at dusk/after dark. Daytime work bucktails fast over weeds. Bulldawgs, Medussas over open water where ciscos present.

Northern Pike: Good. Heat slowing action. Spinnerbaits, Daredevils over 6-10' weeds in am before sun shuts bite down. Soak big chub/sucker along coontail edge of 14-20' for shot at larger fish.

Crappie: Good - Fair. Depends on how bright. Some anglers finding crappies moving out to deep weed edges, holding 2-3' from bottom in 18-20'. Small minnows, tiny tubes best.

Yellow Perch: Good - Fair. LIking heat. Fish with live bait up on top of weed flats of 8-12'. Work pockets not #'s but nice 9-11" fish on medium fats, leeches.

Walleye: Poor - Fair. Good catches at night, daytime is rough. Night anglers set up on off shore humps by 7 pm. Work jig/crawler combos on lighted slip floats with leeches. Nice fish to 27" from larger lakes.

Surface temps on lakes hitting 75-78 degrees and probably will continue to rise further. Leeches getting tough to come by, double hook and keep away from unwanted panfish. Luckily crawlers working just as well. No cold nights in this weeks forecast so things should stay same. Fish early/late.

Field Editor Report by Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
(715) 356-4797
islandsports@verizon.net

Report Date: 8/7/10 2:41 PM CST
Fishes Bird Lake all week. Got lots of small smallies and little else, all about 10-12 inches. Buddy did manage 1 decent largemouth at close to 16" on a crawler. Tried slip bobbers after dark and it was the dead sea. Most fun was catching smallies from shore on my fly rod, mostly using a small popper. Only caught a handful of gills, and they were all small. All fish still swimming, with the exception of the one that was gut-hooked and got swept up by the bald eagle...

Report Date: 8/3/10 11:34 PM CST
Hi. I'm hoping to get some fishing advice from anyone who has fished Mercer Lake? It looks like, with the exception of a couple of resorts, that this is pretty much a private lake. I've had a hard time finding any current information about this lake at all. I'm renting a place there for a week in the beginning of Sept. and I really don't know what to expect.

The little bit that I do know about the lake, is that it is highly regarded for its musky and walleye fishery. So those are the fish that I intend on targeting. I am from out of state, (California) so this will most likely be my only opportunity to succeed there.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Report Date: 8/3/10 1:22 PM CST
Jig and leech/crawlers also very effective. At dawn cast twitch baits (Rattlin Rouges, X-raps) inside weedlines to intercept cruising smallies feeding on shallow minnows.

Muskie: Good. Best action at dusk, after dark. Topwater action best (Pacemakers, Tallywackers, Top Raiders). A 48" fish from Minocqua Chain leads weeks report. Daytime action tough with boat traffic, work big plastics deep.

Bluegills: Good. Lots of action for live bait anglers working deeper weeds. Some good topwater action using poppers during evenings.

Perch: Good. Either 6-8' weeds with leeches or minnocs or deeper sandgrass of 14-22' using 1/2 crawler or soft shells (frozen).

Pike: Fair to Good. Spinnerbaits, spoons, chatterbaits over weed flats of 6-10'. Jig and chub if action slow. Most reports of smaller pike 20-24" with fish of 28-32" here and there.

Walleye: Poort-Fair. Best bet to target deep clear lakes drifting Lindy style rigs with crawlers, big leeches during day. Depths 18-30' depending on light. At nigh (best) sit on humps with lighted slip floats and biggest leeches you can find. Mostly fish over 20" this way (remember these are the good spawners) up to 27".

Surface water temps from low to mid 70's everywhere> Lots of weed growth, big schools of bait fish to contend with. The topwater action for bass, musky (even some pike) has been the talk. Should continue in the evenings as long as nights stay warm.

Field Editor Report by Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
(715) 356-4797
islandsports@verizon.net

Report Date: 8/1/10 10:58 PM CST
Nice fish mama! Trollin the rainbow for em?

sc

Report Date: 8/1/10 8:55 PM CST
Fished Oneida Lake last week. Bad algae blume but we still caught some nice fish. Big fish of the week were 19 1/2" smallie on topwater and 14" crappie on a minnow fished 6" under the bobber over cabbage weeds.

[This post was last edited on 8/1/10 at 8:57 PM]

Report Date: 7/27/10 4:46 PM CST
caught in onieda co. lake 6/27/2010 mama's big 44" long 20" girth caught around noon daddy's big 43 1/2" long 17 1/2" girth caught around 3 p.m. same day Once in a life time fishing vacation we will never forget!!! catch and release on both fish Next time they will be 50" plus

Report Date: 7/27/10 1:07 PM CST
Weather finally stabilized some up here. The rain that was forecasted for all last week didnt make it (sorry Milwawkee). Fish responded better, especially the bass and panfish, to the consistent weather.

Largemouth Bass: Very Good. Lake type and time of day dietating what to use. Top water HOT!! plastic frogs in the slop, Jitterbugs, Spooks along shallow weed edges, Nice LMB to 20" this week on surface, early AM and dusk. During day, start with fast moving Crawks (Rattle Traps, Shallow Shad Raps), Spinners (#3 Mepps Aglia) on Spinnerbaits (Boonie Baits) over 6-8' weed flats. Once detron slows, plunk pockets with Jenkos, Yum Dinkers set wacky style. Jig and Pig combos , 7" plastic worms rigged Tekas style and Wolly Bugs also addictive.

Bluegills: Very Good. Responding very will to stable weather. Fish 8 to as deep as 14',suspended small leeches, worms on jig, tiny plastics. Look for suspended gills starting to move to outside weed edges.

Smallmouth Bass: Good. Tubes (3") on 1/8 oz - 1/4oz heads worked off gravel bars and along coontail edges of 14-18'. Big leeches on 1/16 - 1/8 oz plain jig heads as well as frozed soft shells accounting for big smallies to 21" this past week. #7 Shad Raps worked over 10-12' short (sandgrass) flats in crawfish patterns deadly.

Musky: Good. Best day times action on Bucktails (fluted blades) over 6-10' cabbage beds. On lakes with Cisco, counting down big rubber baits (Meddusas, Bulldawgs) best. At dusk and after dark, top water lures moving fish. Pacemakers, Top Raiders, Tallywackers type baits worked fainly shallow (10 to as little as 3') best.

Crappies: Good. Setting up in deep water cabbage beds of 10-14'. Work tiny Gapon, Freshwater shrimp, 1" Twistertails on 1/22 or jigs to locate fish. Small floats suspending small minnows 2' from surface catching lots of nice 10-11" eaters with a few 13-14" slabs thrown in.

Northern Pike: Good. Spinnerbaits (Boonies), Chatterbaits and Shallow Shad Raps getting good response from pike in 6-10' weeds. #3 or #4 Mepps also effective, gold, orange, and brass blades best. Jig chubs in same weeds if bite slow.

Yellow Perch: Good. Most reports of eaters (8-9") with some nice 10" plus fish on Minocqua Chain. Frozen soft shells best over deep sandgrass for large fish. Medium leeches, 1/2 crawler in 8-12' weeds on most bodies of water.

Walleye: Fair. Tough mid-summer bite. Crawlers best on light jigs or drift spinner rigs along hump breaks in 18-24'. Dawn and Dusk best.

Witnessed a lot of evidence of fish eating crayfish (Bass regurgitating, and in Pike AND Walleyes in fish house). Seems earlier than usual (typically I see Smallies and Walleyes feeding on solf shells heavily in late August). For what ever reason use this to your advantage. This week be it artificial lure profile, color(orange, brown) or scent (artificial spray or even just crawlers) to entree any these species.

Field Editor Report by Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
(715) 356-4797
islandsports@verizon.net

Report Date: 7/20/10 10:39 AM CST
Lack of consistent weather, more then anything else, has hurt fishing these past couple of weeks. We can't seem to get three days in a row of the same weather. A high pressure, cloudless day followed by rain and/or storms. Patterns are tough to come by, the best fishing happens during short windows prior to new fronts.

Largemouth Bass: Good. Plastics (5" senkos, 7" worms) fished in pockets and around docks/boat houses on bright days. Work adjacent weed beds with Boonie Baits (spinnerbaits), chatter baits, shallow running cranks when clouds roll in.

Northern Pike: Good. Live bait (chubs, suckers) best during periods of light. Switch to Boonie Baits, #3, #4 Mepps, shallow shad raps wen windy or cloudy.

Smallmouth Bass: Fair-Good. Tube jigs worked over off shore rock bars. 1/8 oz jigs, lindy rigs with large/x-large leeches, crawlers, frozen crayfish.

Bluegills: Fair-Good. Best on fair weather days. Small leeches, worms. Fish weeds of 6-8', any cribs, drowned wood.

Yellow Perch: Fair-Good. Work 10-14' weed edges. Medium Fatheads, medium leeches. Some anglers reporting fish on sandgrass flats of 18-22', use 1/2 crawlers or frozen crayfish, expect some small mouth action.

Musky: Fair. Fish being raised this past week, few solid takers. Bucktails moving the majority of fish, surface lures at dusk, pre fronts.

Crappie: Fair. When the weather has been nice, its been too nice, causing this species to be tight lipped. Concentrate on weeds of 8-12'. Work light weight, light colored jigs at weed to level.

Walleye: Poor-Fair. Flowages feeling negative effects of reapidly rising water. Larger lakes (LDF Chain) best. Big leeches crawlers on 1/4oz jigs, spinner rigs (drifting) along 18-26' breaks best. Lighted floats on top of bars at dusk/after dark.

Forecast (wild guesses) for rain through Friday. Saturday and Sunday look to clear up. We've needed rain, many lakes full, T.F.F. full, Willow 4' low, Rainbow 6' low. Some lakes will take a lot more (Katherine, Big Muskellunge, Clear). Take along reain gear this week, watch for fronts coming in.

Field Editor Report by Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
(715) 356-4797
islandsports@verizon.net

Report Date: 7/12/10 10:24 AM CST
Anglers dealt with some changes this past week. Lots of sunny, high pressure days mixed with small quick moving rain/thunderstorms. Fishing started out very good, but seemed to slow by weeks end.

Largemouth Bass: Good. Fish moving into thick, heavy cover on hot evenings, top water (plastic frogs, jitterbugs, pop-r's) best over cover and in pockets within thick weeds. Wacky style worms (Senkos, Dingers), chompers skirted grubs and yums, wooly bugs punched through thick weeds accounting for bass to 20".

Smallmouth Bass: Fair-good. Would respond better to more heat. Running coontail edges and sand grass flats searching for baitfish and crayfish respectively. Lipless cranks along coontail edges (countdown to within 2' of bottom) and tubes and skirted grubs in crawfish pattern over sandgrass flats. Fish scattered, so spend time searching.

Yellow Perch: Fair - good. Use frozen soft shells over sandgrass flats to entice larger perch (10 + inches). Be ready to get intercepted by SMB and Walleye. Medium leeches under slip-floats in and along weed beds of 8-10' also holding good numbers.

Crappie: Fair. Weathers instability slowed action, should return. Work tiny jigs (twister tails, freshwater shrimp and mini mite) to locate fish over weed tops. Usually in 8-12' but found nice fish in as shallow as 4-5' last week.

Bluegills: Fair. Stick with small leeches, worms. Inside weed edges best. Look to docks, boat houses, drowned wood, cribs to hold fish.

Northern Pike: Good - Fair. Week started out very good, with nice Pike to 32" taking Boonie Baits worked over weed tops of 5-8'. Action slowed, try chubs on light jigs to tempt bites.

Musky: Fair. After good week action died. Twitch baits over weed tops big rubber baits over open water.

Walleye: Fair-Poor. Bite tough on local lakes, slow presentation of leeches on slip floats along weed edges at dusk best.

Even though we still need more rain for some lakes (a lot are back to full), some summer patterns back into play and make fishing a bit more predictable... But thats Fishing...

Field Editor Report by Kurt Justice
Kurt's Island Sport Shop
(715) 356-4797
islandsports@verizon.net

Report Date: 7/9/10 9:25 PM CST
I will be heading up to the sugar camp area in a couple weeks. Looking for some lakes close by that are action lakes. Maybe for bass, northern, nice sized panfish. Have tried Indian, Thunder and Sugar camp but looking for some different lakes in the area. Anybody have any suggestions. thanks